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* * *
A successful businessman seemed to have everything – a beautiful wife, adorable children, and a big house in which they all lived happily. His greatest pride, however, was in his exotic songbird, which he kept in a cage and fed delicious titbits when she entertained guests.
The man had to go on a trip. He asked his wife and children what presents they would like from abroad; they asked for fine silks, honeycomb, and clockwork toys. Last, he asked his songbird if she would like him to bring anything back.
“I wish only for one small favor” said the songbird.
“Anything!” her master spoke gleefully.
“Just this – when you see my cousins in the trees where you’re going to, please tell them about my conditions here.”
“Are you sure? I could bring you back a jewel-encrusted mirror or dried tropical fruit?” said the owner.
The songbird replied,“No, just this, thank you.” And the man went away feeling a little confused but resolved to carry out the wishes of his songbird.
The man made his trip safely and carried out his business; he spent his remaining time buying presents his family requested. Last, he went to a park and saw some birds in trees, and they bore a remarkable resemblance to his songbird. He called up and told them about how his own bird lived in a cage and sang for his guests and him.
But no sooner had he finished speaking than one of the birds trembled on its perch and tumbled to the ground, ceasing to move. The man held his head in grief. The happening spoiled his trip.
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He returned home and greeted his family. They were delighted with their presents; but he could not share their pleasure as long as the soon encounter with his songbird was on his conscience.
Finally, he found the courage to go to the garden. “Well?” his songbird asked and, hesitantly, the man told him what had occurred. The songbird listened intently. He, then, trembled on his perch and fell to the bottom of his cage. He was dead.
The man was now beside himself with sadness and confusion. Weeping openly, he opened the door of the cage and lifted out his beloved songbird. No sooner had he done so, however, the songbird returned to life. The bird flew up to the branches of the nearest tree and let out a shrill of joy at finding its freedom.
The man scratched his head in wonder and asked: “Okay, you win. But tell me, please, what was in the message that contained this trick?”
The songbird looked down at him with pity and said: “My cousin in Africa showed me that it was my beauty and singing voice that kept me in the cage. Were it not for the delight of my singing voice and beauty you would have lost interest in me long ago. I had to give up that life to become free.”
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What constitutes real freedom? Am I free because I get what I want? A rampant pursuit of facile satisfaction, pleasure, and avoidance of suffering would indicate we, as a culture, believe that freedom is in getting the most of what we want.
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