The Chained Elephant
I used to love going to the circus when I was a little kid, and what I liked the most about going was seeing the animals. I was fascinated with the circus’ elephant, as many other kids were. During the show, the large beast would show off its tremendous size, weight, and strength….but after his performance and shortly before returning for the final act, the elephant was only tied by a chain around its leg to a small stake nailed to the ground.
However, the stake was a miniscule piece of wood stuck barely a couple of inches into the ground. Even though the chain was thick and powerful, it seemed obvious to me that the elephant who was capable of tearing off a tree from its roots with his strength, it could have easily pulled off the stake and run away.
So the mystery is: What keeps him there? Why does he not run away?
I was five or six years old then, and I still trusted the wisdom of the adults. I then asked a teacher, a parent, and an uncle about this elephant mystery. One of them explained to me that the elephant did not escape because he was a trained animal.
I then asked the obvious: If he is trained, why does he need to be chained?
I do not remember getting a logical response.
As time passed by, I forgot about the mystery of the elephant and the stake…and would only remember it when I would run into others that had asked themselves the same question.
I closed my eyes and imagined the newborn elephant tied to the stake.
I am sure that the first time that he was tied, he pulled, pushed, and exhausted himself trying to get away. Despite all his efforts he was unable to set himself free.
The stake was certainly too strong for him. I would swear that he went to sleep worn out and that the next day he attempted to get away again, and the next day too, and the next, and the…..
Until one day, a terrible day in its life, the animal accepted its helplessness and accepted its destiny.
This powerful and massive elephant that we see at the circus does not escape because he believes that he can’t! All that his brain registers and remembers is his helplessness, that helplessness that he felt shortly after being a newborn.
The worst part is that he has not seriously questioned that imprint of helplessness. The elephant lived the rest of his life at the circus and never, never again did he try to question his strength once more….
Did you reflect on yourself and answered the question?
Everyone has the capacity to break away from that stake and chain! The trick is in realizing that you are not helpless and then make a decision to wrestle to the best of your ability.
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