She followed the happy fireflies and noticed that as they flew, they lit up. And some, after lighting up for a while, melted in the air.
As it wasn't much for conversations, the owl tried to understand what was happening there without asking the flock.
However, one fine day, a small firefly landed very close to her and started a conversation:
— Mrs. Owl, forgive me, but why does she live here alone if she could be over there with her friends?
The owl, although it preferred to remain silent, also had an unanswered question and decided to speak:
“I like living here. It's my place. Why would I leave here?
— Not to live alone. To fly in a pack like I do with my brothers.
— Hmmmm. I don't know if I like this racket. I prefer to stay here with my thoughts. And I'm afraid I'm too heavy to go too far.
“But with these huge wings, I could fly wherever I wanted. They can take it. And the weight can always go down. Can I help you. Do you want to try?
"These day," he replied without conviction. But tell me something: why do you shine when you fly?
“I don't quite know why. But this makes us very happy. And the happier we are, the warmer we are inside and the brighter we shine.
“But some of you shine so bright you explode. You are not afraid?
- Fear? Why would we be afraid if we were born this way, to do this? We cannot be afraid of what we are. Mrs. Are you afraid of taking care of the woods?
"Where did you get that idea from?"
— Well, Mrs. lives in this corner standing still, watching everything with those huge eyes and when she sees an intruder approaching, she devours him. She is our protector!
“I was just feeding. Nothing else!
“But you could feed yourself otherwise. Why does she do exactly like her friends across the field without even knowing them?
The owl, not knowing how to respond, fell silent. There, she was quiet in her corner, analyzing everything and everyone, she was missing an essential piece of information: self-awareness. Who was? What were you doing there?
That “strange and stupid” insect had turned on a light for him. She needed to know herself.
"Are these friends really like me?"
- Very similar. The only difference is that they talk to each other. Want to see? I'll take you there.
And so, this most unlikely partnership grew over time. Daily, the firefly came to the owl. When he was late, she was already looking for him in the sky and was able to recognize him among so many others. She began to take small flights with her new friends. Every day more fireflies joined the conversation. Respectful detachment gave way to loving closeness.
Until one day, she finally took courage and asked him to teach her the way to find her equals. The journey wasn't long, but it was expensive for someone who was so afraid of flying.
But her firefly friends accompanied her along the way and when she doubted, they took their frail bodies under her wing and helped her onward.
The happiness was such that it warmed the hearts of those little beings like never before and they turned into a single, brilliant light, before dissipating in the sky. The journey ended there.
Eternally grateful, the owl went to live her life, inspired by her fireflies friends, who, even knowing what would happen, couldn't - or wanted - to avoid what they are.
And, in order to honor what he had lived and learned, he exchanged arrogant wisdom for humble pursuits, so that he could make better use of it. “new leaves, new flowers in the infinite blessing of the beginning” (Chico Xavier)
We are all light. Just use our hearts and we will warm the world!
You may also like another article by this author. Access: listen with the heart
