A sardine's dilemma.
The place: A large factory, near the ocean. Inside is an assembly line; one having a long black belt moved along by powerful motors. It carried many empty sardine cans, that would soon be filled. The sardines had no power to flee the cold glazed tin walls of their new prison. Yet there was a certain comfort as each lay side, by side, one row upon another.
One called himself Charlie, he being a little larger than the others, yet still sharing the same fate. The one who lay beside Charlie had a great deal in common with him. At one time in the past, they swam through the powerful currents of the oceans together.
They were pushed closer to each other as they lay in prescribed rows. They welcomed each new sardine as it entered the tin, all sharing the same prison walls. Covered first by salted water, the light of day began to dim, and soon became the darkest of dark places. Cold and afraid now, each lay motionless not knowing what their future held.
Feeling strength in numbers, they longed for the light of day. Their trip was long and bumpy; destination unknown. But soon it became still, very still as a deafening silence fell upon their prison once more.
Time passed, and soon voices could be heard outside their prison walls. Someone chuckled, and then laughed out loud. The tin moved upward; followed by a whirring sound, as their prison began to circle round, and round.
A moment passed before the lid was lifted, and the light of day again came pouring in. Joy could be felt by each fellow sardine, as their spirits were raised. Freedom at last! freedom at last! A good mood filled the tin prison, one not felt for many weeks.
Each longed for the openness of the vast oceans; and for the cold waters of the seas that would move about them. They pictured themselves swimming side by side with their fellow sardines; swimming against the might currents that swept the oceans floor.
Charlie tried to move but the long journey had stiffened his bones. What is that sound? that familiar smell? that taste in the air? The sound was that of waves breaking along the shore. The air was fresh, the breeze warm, and both having the taste of salt.
Yes! Yes! they were back again near the ocean. That wonderful sound of breaking waves, that salty air; it was wonderful! wonderful! Charlie could see a white gull passing by, as others circled above.
Only a few more feet to freedom. The future seemed bright again, its light growing with each passing moment, and hope seemed to spring eternal. The sound of the mighty waters of the ocean; Oh how close! how close does freedom lie.
Charlie felt his tin prison would soon be a dimming memory; a forgotten place; never again to be spoken of. Charlie nudged his friend, and winked, both could feel the joy of the other as they lay side by side. A new feeling of expectation moved through their very souls.
Charlie though he heard a strange chewing sound close by. Suddenly a finger and thumb entered their prison, and pulled one of their companions out. Then another hand holding a fork stuck Charlie friend, and lifted him away. Soon it was Charlies turn; he also was carried away by that same fork in hand.
He found himself once again lying side by side with his friend. Not in the same tin, the one with smooth sides; but now between two slices of bread, covered with lettuce. Oh what will become of me he cried? as again, the light of day began to dim. That chewing sound became deafening, as the blackness closed in about him.
Charlie was never heard from again. But back in the factory, many more tin cans moved along that black belt, and each was filled with sardines. What were once schools of hopeful fish swimming in the might waters of the oceans, were about to be imprisoned in tin, and all sharing the same fate as Charlie, and his friend.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com
The place: A large factory, near the ocean. Inside is an assembly line; one having a long black belt moved along by powerful motors. It carried many empty sardine cans, that would soon be filled. The sardines had no power to flee the cold glazed tin walls of their new prison. Yet there was a certain comfort as each lay side, by side, one row upon another.
One called himself Charlie, he being a little larger than the others, yet still sharing the same fate. The one who lay beside Charlie had a great deal in common with him. At one time in the past, they swam through the powerful currents of the oceans together.
They were pushed closer to each other as they lay in prescribed rows. They welcomed each new sardine as it entered the tin, all sharing the same prison walls. Covered first by salted water, the light of day began to dim, and soon became the darkest of dark places. Cold and afraid now, each lay motionless not knowing what their future held.
Feeling strength in numbers, they longed for the light of day. Their trip was long and bumpy; destination unknown. But soon it became still, very still as a deafening silence fell upon their prison once more.
Time passed, and soon voices could be heard outside their prison walls. Someone chuckled, and then laughed out loud. The tin moved upward; followed by a whirring sound, as their prison began to circle round, and round.
A moment passed before the lid was lifted, and the light of day again came pouring in. Joy could be felt by each fellow sardine, as their spirits were raised. Freedom at last! freedom at last! A good mood filled the tin prison, one not felt for many weeks.
Each longed for the openness of the vast oceans; and for the cold waters of the seas that would move about them. They pictured themselves swimming side by side with their fellow sardines; swimming against the might currents that swept the oceans floor.
Charlie tried to move but the long journey had stiffened his bones. What is that sound? that familiar smell? that taste in the air? The sound was that of waves breaking along the shore. The air was fresh, the breeze warm, and both having the taste of salt.
Yes! Yes! they were back again near the ocean. That wonderful sound of breaking waves, that salty air; it was wonderful! wonderful! Charlie could see a white gull passing by, as others circled above.
Only a few more feet to freedom. The future seemed bright again, its light growing with each passing moment, and hope seemed to spring eternal. The sound of the mighty waters of the ocean; Oh how close! how close does freedom lie.
Charlie felt his tin prison would soon be a dimming memory; a forgotten place; never again to be spoken of. Charlie nudged his friend, and winked, both could feel the joy of the other as they lay side by side. A new feeling of expectation moved through their very souls.
Charlie though he heard a strange chewing sound close by. Suddenly a finger and thumb entered their prison, and pulled one of their companions out. Then another hand holding a fork stuck Charlie friend, and lifted him away. Soon it was Charlies turn; he also was carried away by that same fork in hand.
He found himself once again lying side by side with his friend. Not in the same tin, the one with smooth sides; but now between two slices of bread, covered with lettuce. Oh what will become of me he cried? as again, the light of day began to dim. That chewing sound became deafening, as the blackness closed in about him.
Charlie was never heard from again. But back in the factory, many more tin cans moved along that black belt, and each was filled with sardines. What were once schools of hopeful fish swimming in the might waters of the oceans, were about to be imprisoned in tin, and all sharing the same fate as Charlie, and his friend.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com
