Caged Dog, Same Tricks

One day, my dog did the strangest thing. Now its not particularly strange dog behavior, and it's not even particular strange behavior. Wait, it wasn't the strangest thing because it was so typical. Maybe I should say that this was the thing that was so obvious that we as humans forget to recognize it.

Well, one day, my brothers went to school and did the usual let-the-dog-do-its-thing in the backyard, but this morning was different. They left the back door open. The dog was out the cage and free from the world that it had know. The dog was free to travel the streets, soaking up knowledge and doing the things that other dogs only imagined.

During this time I was asleep, because they were going to school during the ungodly hour that was required during the years of primary and secondary education. I was roused from my sleep by a doorbell. I was disoriented, and I ignore the ringing, until I realize it is in fact a ringing doorbell. I rush downstairs, and I open the door. There stands my neighbor with our dog in her hand. The dog that could have gone anywhere it chose goes from the back door to................................the front door.

I didn't automatically make the connection then, but after much thought, and a lot of time, it occurred to me: that was sad. So many people or dogs or caterpillars have the back door open exposing them to the world that is outside everything comfortable. There is a world that someone could have the potential to conquer, and they end up in the front door, scraping at the life that they are all to familiar with.

My charge is this: what is life without seeing what is out there? Is it only safe to say that even when the world is at our fingertips we would be better off never leaving at all? If that's the case then nothing would be accomplished, nothing would be invented, or destroyed. There would be no movement, and that would be the saddest of all. Remember: leave, go far away, explore, and if home is "that" place for you, then return. If it's not the place, however, release yourself, and move on.