hmmm…..
In “The Book of Awakening”, Mark Nepo tells the story of a man who cleaned his fish tank. Placing the fish in his water-filled bath tub, he discovered that instead of swimming all around the large tub, the fish confined themselves to just a small space about the size of their tank. He writes about how we, too, confine ourselves to a small space instead of breaking out and exploring what our world has to offer. Looking outside of ourselves to see what is around us can be freeing.
I saw the parable in a different light. Perhaps the fish were swimming together because they felt comfortable, secure and protected when they stayed in close proximity to one another.
“A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” I am not sure who said that first but I love the quote. Whether our family is a so-called nuclear family or one of our own choosing (like a church family) closeness is a good criterion for happiness in the family. Caring about each other is a good thing; wanting to be together through good times and bad counts for a lot toward our sense of well-being.
Being just another fish in a little pond may not be such a bad thing after all. In the right circumstance, it might seem like heaven right here on earth.
hmmm…..
Yes! We like those fish were not made to exist in isolation. When we are separate from people for long periods we may miss out on God-encounters, and begin to see only our own tiny little world -- not the world others know and can show us.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS, Nancy!
Thanks, Clay!
ReplyDeleteMy brother is a cloistered monk in France. He basically lives the life of a hermit -- but they are still in community -- they worship together and have community time together -- I think he would agree with you! (Maybe I should write a blog about him?) :)