Article June 17, 1967 Issue

Healing the Motive for Theft

NAOMI PRICE

Only a few seconds after a supply of food had been scattered on a bird feeding station, a dozen or more sparrows began to gather. Some alighted on nearby bushes in order to survey the prospects of a meal, while one, displaying less caution, immediately swooped down to pick up a crumb, flying away quickly with the intention of eating it at leisure and in private.

This would have been a happy scene except that to the birds which had been holding back, the sight of another sparrow carrying a beakful of food was a signal to give chase. Heedless of the abundance still lying on the feeder, they followed this one with raucous chattering, viciously harrying it in their attempts to grab the crumb. Apparently they believed that their own hunger could only be satisfied by stealing.

How unintelligent their action appeared to one onlooker! She could see that the generous supply available was more than enough for all, and she felt inclined to lecture the sparrows for their stupidity and point out the abundance they were leaving still unclaimed. Then, pondering the lesson, she realized that, on a small scale, this little drama enacted on nature's stage is typical of a phase of mortal thought to be found among men and women as well as among birds. Far from being merely a characteristic of the animal kingdom, the envy of covetous mortals and the dishonesty of thieves are as much induced by ignorance as is the petty jealousy of sparrows.

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The Way of Escape
June 17, 1967
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