Orthodox Parables and Stories: The Young Bird

A chick fell out of the nest. A very small, helpless one whose wings have not yet grown. He can't do anything, only squeak and open its beak asking for food.

The children took him and brought him into the house. They made a nest for him of grass and twigs. Vova fed the baby, and Ira drank him and carried him to the sun.

Soon the chick grew stronger and the feathers grew. The children found an old bird cage in the attic and put their favorite pet in it for safety. The cat began to look at him very expressively. The cat was on duty at the cage all day long, waiting for a comfortable moment. And no matter how many of his children drove him away, he kept an eye on the chick.

Summer flew by unnoticed. In front of the children, the chick grew up and started flying in the cage. And soon, he became cramped in it. When the cage was taken outside, he fought against the rods and asked to go out. So the children decided to let their pet out. Of course, they were sorry to part with him, but they could not deprive the one who was created for the flight.

One sunny morning the children said goodbye to their pet, took the cage into the yard and opened it. The chick jumped on the grass and looked back at his friends.

At that moment the cat appeared. Lurking in the bushes, he got ready to jump, rushed, but ... The chick took off higher and higher.

The Holy Elder John of Kronstadt compared our soul to a bird. For every soul, the enemy is hunting, wants to catch us. After all, at first the human soul, just like a chick, helpless, can not fly. How can we keep it, how can we grow it, so that it wouldn't break against sharp rocks, wouldn't get into the trapper's net?

God has created a saving fence, behind which our soul grows and strengthens - the house of God, the Holy Church. In it the soul learns to fly high and high, to heaven itself. And it learns there such a bright joy, that it is not afraid of any earthly networks.