What Keeps Us From Hatching?

"It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad."

C. S. Lewis

I love this analogy.  So often it seems so easy to just "keep everything the way it is," including myself.  So I wonder what exactly it means to hatch from the egg, especially if the egg is a perfectly good one.  Following the metaphor,as the baby bird must make an effort to crack the egg, we must make an effort to hatch and grow.   Yet the egg has offered security and safety; why would the bird even endeavor to leave a nice place, especially when effort is involved?  Does it naturally feel a need?  An urge?  Just knows the surroundings are beginning to feel cramped? What keeps us stagnating in the "same" place daily, allows us to feel satisfied with "the way we are."  Is it difficulty or is it fear?  Are we afraid if we take that step to hatch the egg and leave the nest that predators may attack? Fear can be immobilizing, but apathy can be debelitating.  

 If the baby bird were to avoid that natural push to peck away, how much longer would the security last before dying and death set in?  If we avoid our true nature, what becomes of us?  Do we stagnate, shrivel up, and eventually die to any possible new growth?  What of the differences we could make for those around us?  We affect others whether we mean to or not; whether for better or worse.  Believing all is well doesn't mean all is well. 

So maybe we should make an effort each day to challenge ourselves to be just a bit more; to help just a bit more; to try just a bit harder; and to make just a bit of difference in the world that surrounds us.  Remaining in the egg may seem easier, but "things are not always what they seem."

**If this is your copyrighted clip art and would like it removed, please let me know.