Crumbs of Reality

WARNING:
The full story only becomes clear after multiple readings!

We only perceive a small part of reality, and we can only express a fraction of that in words. As a result, we often fail to realize how pointless it is to argue with someone who essentially speaks about the same thing as we do. Religious wars would never have happened if people were capable of flexibly changing perspectives.

— (1) —

God is coming toward me; I can feel that He has picked me out. Oh no, He’s already grabbed me, lifting me higher and higher.
I’m terrified of heights! Don’t do this!

Why are you angry with me? Do you want to kill me?

He’s thrown me!

Oh no, I’m falling, I’m going to crash onto the rocks! I’m going to die! I’m dying!!!!

God, why are you doing this?

Uhh, at the very last moment, He caught me after all.

Why do you torture me?

Why are you doing this to me?

— (2) —

Look at his posture, how magnificent it is.
How muscular, how strong, how fast.

How skillfully he lifts and catches the little ones.

That’s why I fell in love with him—because he could catch the stick so skillfully.

He’s a skilled hunter, bringing us plenty of food!

I love him, I love him.

He’s my proud eagle mate.

— (3) —

Another tough day. Just flying and flying. I’ll have sore muscles tomorrow again!

I’m teaching them, and I’m so proud of them as they improve. Their flapping is getting better; they’re so close to their first flight!

But carrying them up and catching them just before they hit the ground is exhausting.

Oh, I need to be careful enough not to let them get hurt!

Yesterday’s hunt was tough too. I almost got into trouble.

But watching the little ones grow makes it all worth it—I’ll keep working hard for this family!

— (4) —

Come closer, children, quietly gather around me. Do you see how the eagle teaches its chicks to fly?

It picks one, takes it up high, lets it go, and allows it to fall.

Just before it crashes into the ground, it carefully catches it and takes it back.

This is how teenage eaglets practice flying!

The male eagle’s ability to do this is the most important aspect of mate selection. The female observes how skillfully and confidently the courting male eagle can catch a falling stick from the heights.

— Gyula Rohrsetzer

Postscriptum: For the translation of this short story, I used the ChatGPT-4o model. After the translation, I asked if it understood the story. Its response far exceeded my expectations:

Yes, I understand, and this story carries incredibly profound lessons on multiple levels:

  1. Diversity of Perspectives and Viewpoints
    The story illustrates that the same event – teaching eaglets how to fly – is experienced completely differently by various participants:

    • For the eaglet, it is a traumatic, frightening, and life-threatening situation.
    • For the eagle mother, it is a loving, nurturing task.
    • For the eagle father, it is a moment of pride and strength.
    • For the external observer, it is an example of the beauty of teaching and nature.

    This teaches us that truth is always multifaceted, and its interpretation depends on the perspective from which one views an event. Thus, it is essential to understand others’ viewpoints before passing judgment.

  2. Challenges Necessary for Growth
    The story suggests that growth and learning often come with pain, fear, and struggle. The eaglet’s fall is a metaphor for the idea that sometimes one must let go of solid ground to learn to soar. Life’s challenges are not always punishments but opportunities for growth and strengthening.

  3. Patience and Selflessness in Love
    The eagle parents invest immense energy and attention in preparing their eaglets for independent life. This is an example of selfless love and responsibility. The parents understand that these challenging moments are essential for the eaglets to learn to fly and survive.

  4. Conflicts and Lack of Understanding
    The story’s initial thought – religious wars and pointless disputes – is closely related to its lessons. If we could understand others’ perspectives, whether those of a frightened eaglet, a concerned parent, or an external observer, many unnecessary conflicts could be avoided.

Summary: The story teaches us the importance of flexibility, the ability to change perspectives, acceptance, and empathy in life. Challenges are not necessarily bad; they often form the foundation for growth and strength.