Change or Perish

I got the following interesting fact about the eagle from another blog. I am not sure how true this is though. But still, it is a good parable.

The eagle has the longest life-span of its species. It can live up to 70 years. 

However, in its forties, its long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food. Its long and sharp beak becomes bent. Its aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly. 

The eagle is then left with 2 options: die, or go through a painful process of change which last 150 days.

The process requires that the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it drops off. After that, it will wait for a new beak to grow back. With the new beak, it will pluck out its talons. When the new talons grow back, the eagle will start plucking its aged feathers.

And after 5 months, the eagle takes its famous flight of re-birth and lives for 30 more years.

This parable illustrates the importance of change. Many times, in order to survive we have to undergo a process of change. We sometimes need to get rid of old memories, habits and other past traditions. Only when we are free from past burdens, can we take advantage of the present.

Change is a law of life. Without change, there would be no growth, no progress, no improvement to our lives. In the case of the eagle, change is a matter of life and death.