Hootie's Wisdom

Something pretty special happened on Thanksgiving Day back in 2006.
Little did I realize that morning as I began preparing the turkey, that it wasn't going to be the only "bird" in the house that day...

Jimmy has always had an appreciation for birds in the wild. He's been known to about run off the road to stare at a red tail hawk perched up on a farm fence.

When we were younger he used to speak of having a desire to be a "falconer".

So needless to say, I wasn't too surprised that day he brought home a baby horned owl that he had found that morning on the ground outside the fire department. He brought the little guy home in a box with plans to take him to "Noah's Ark" (a local animal habitat that helps injured wildlife).

Let me tell you. "Hootie" (as the kids called him) was gorgeous!

He had the biggest eyes you've ever seen. They were captivating!

We all stared in amazement when he would turn his head practically 360 degrees.It wasn't long before the kids were begging us to keep him as a "pet" and we were stroking his feathers like you would pet a kitten.

He decided to fly up and perch on a ledge near the kitchen for hours. He sat there, when not asleep, looking down upon our Thanksgiving feast...probably wondering..."How did I get in this place?"

Ever felt like that?

At some point during the day he decided to take flight and had "landed" in our bedroom...perching upon the mirror to our dresser.

It was getting late & time for bed, and I asked Jimmy "So what are you going to do with your "pet" for the night?"

He then said "Nothing...he'll be okay where he's at...he's not going to hurt anything."

I told him I wasn't taking any chances and it was just a little too crazy sleeping with a wild bird in the room...so I was sleeping with the kids!

Him & "Hootie" could have the room all to themselves. :)

Not even 10 minutes in the dark, I heard all kinds of commotion. I knew what was going on.

His "pet" had woke up! and was probably ready to hunt.He came barreling out into the hall, owl included. The house we lived in was over 100 years old, so the ceilings were about 12 ft. high and the hall was wide. So "Hootie" was taking flight again.

Yes...girls..this is one of those sweet moments when I got to
say "Told you so!!!"

It was apparent that Hootie wasn't as injured as we thought.

He was going strong.

Jimmy then opened the front door and he flew out. Just like that.

Gone.

So why do I tell you our "crazy baby owl" story?
What's the point?...other than you thinking we're a bunch of nuts! :)

To teach WISDOM.

To teach AUTHENTICITY.

My question to YOU is ....Who are YOU???

"Hootie" knew who he was.
He was an owl.He "did" owl.
He knew where he was suppose to be.He knew what he was suppose to be doing.
(His Creator's purpose for HIM)

But get this...just like Society, Your Boss, Your Family, Your Friends, Etc. will do,WE were trying to make him into something he wasn't.

We attempted to make him into a kitten by "petting him" and "talking sweet" to him.
But "Hootie" wasn't a kitten.He was a baby owl.

How many times do we play the part of "kitten" when we KNOW we are a "baby owl"?

Is that the reason we stay in jobs that we secretly HATE?
Maybe because "that's what your father did...his father did...etc"?

Is that why we restrain ourselves from going after our dreams?Because we are worried what society will think if we take a stand for something "out of the ordinary".

For most people,It's just easier...Easier to get petted,Easier to keep being sweet talked to,Easier to just keep staying "safe".

Most people feel that spreading their wings and Being their "authentic self" is "scary" and "unknown".

What was cool is that "Hootie" knew WHO HE WAS,He knew he didn't belong trapped in a house, He knew he had a purpose.

He knew that he was born "FREE".
So what about YOU?
What next?
What do YOU do?

"Hootie" couldn't get out the door.
It was shut.
He needed someone to open the door for him.
But we were not opening doors. We were being complacent...(well let's say Jimmy was :)

"Hootie" wasn't though.So what did he do?

He created ACTION.

He created action so that the door HAD to be opened.

So our question again to you is .... WHO are you?

Are you being "owl"? ...are you being your true authentic self?
If it is "freedom" that you want...The answer is simple.

Create YOUR action.
Don't play "kitten".
Be YOU.
Start spreading your wings.

MAKE DOORS OPEN