Once, Geng Ying stood with the King of Wei beneath a tall terrace. Spotting a bird in flight, he said, “I can bring it down with an empty bow.” The king smiled doubtfully. Soon, a lone wild goose flew slowly by. Geng Ying drew his bow without an arrow—and the bird fell.
Amazed, the king asked, “Is such skill possible?”
Geng Ying replied, “This goose had a hidden wound. It flew slowly and cried mournfully, for it had long been separated from its flock. Its old injury hadn’t healed, and its fear remained. Hearing the bowstring, it flapped violently, straining the wound—and fell.”
This tale reminds us that those once frightened may be startled by the slightest sound. Yet understanding the root of fear can set us free. Instead of being ruled by past pain, we can learn to recognize it, tend to it, and move forward with calm strength. A heart healed is no longer a bird startled by a bowstring.