Article July 19, 1982 Issue

See your real identity

MARGARET SWAN TERRY

A recent news item in the local paper gave me a good chuckle.

The keepers of a big city zoo provided their newest resident, a rare wattled crane, with a mirror so it could properly identify itself. The news story stated, "A phenomenon called 'imprinting' causes newborn animals to identify with the animal they come into contact with at birth—in this case human beings who ran the incubator that hatched the crane." The mirror was set up so the chick would grow up understanding it was a wattled crane.^{The Los Angeles Times, May 6, 1981 .}

Thinking about the article later, I found it hinted at a spiritual lesson about mirrors. How often do we look in the mirror and see an image of unhappiness, lack, frustration, disease, and identify ourselves with that mortal likeness?

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

See your real identity

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access