The Thornbirds

“There is a legend about a bird which sings only once in it's life, more beautifully than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves it's nest, it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales it's breast on the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to outcarol the lark and the nightingale.
One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the cost of great pain… Or so says the legend.”
The Thornbird pays it's life for that one song, driven to the thorn with no knowledge of the dying to come. But we, when we press the thorn to our breast, we know, we understand.... and still, we do it... still we do it"
― Colleen McCullough, The Thorn Birds

I love the book and this particular quote. I have read and re read and ruminated over.. dissected, devoured and absorbed it. Had I, good mammaries, I would remember and quote at will.. but I don't so I won't.

Is it true then, that the best is only bought at the cost of great pain? In that case, if I want the best, of life, of love, of all things joyful.. should it be that it has to go through this initiation of fire.. this christening through pain and baptism of agony?

Interesting thought, isn't it. I'd like to look at it positively. If we do believe that there is an awesome reason why we have the trials and tribulations that we do. That there is a sense in all the suffering. That all of this angst is a precursor to something wonderful, don't you think that it would be a lovely formula we can apply to skim through whatever comes our way.
Stoicism is the catch word I would think.

The last line of the quote is special too.. 'But we, when we press the thorn to our breast, we know, we understand.... and still, we do it... still we do it'...

How wonderfully positive this affirmation of life, forbearance and fortitude. If we can then take all of our negatives, turn them around, make them heroic, pat ourselves on the back for the strength that prods weary feet, then we can say, still we do it.

It may be an ego trip and quite in vain.. but there is enough to be sad about and I for one, simpleton Mel would rather take this route.. take every thorn. whimper and die and then die again.. all for that superlative song...

( Suddenly I feel like a drama queen)