A Season for Everything…

Thinking back to last winter, I remember chasing two great blue herons everyday. They waded in the water, and skated on thin ice. Each day I was happy to go outside at the warmest part of the day to discover what new trick they had created. This year is different. There is only one heron and when I do get out between the cold and the rain, I can’t find him. What has changed?

If we begin to follow birds and animals carefully, we will see that they have a vital life of their own. They are not the same every day. Jane Goodall said this and she has lived her whole life by this premise. To quote her: “If you look into their chimpanzees’ eyes, you know you’re looking into a thinking mind.” Chimpanzees teach us that we are not the only beings with personalities. Animals have minds capable of rational thought, altruism and a sense of humor. You may question this intelligence about birds, but just watch and see.

I look to animals of all kinds to better understand God’s unconditional love. Yes, our shortcomings, are often hidden within the reeds. In Dutchess County I learned to care for a “murder of crows.” Scary you might say, but really crows are so intelligent. They left shiny objects on stones and would announce our arrival with loud caws.

My life has moved me away from a big city and now I live by the ocean and small lakes. The blue heron captures my attention by her solitariness. Unlike the crows, the heron is always alone and perhaps I have found kinship with that solitariness. I never expected to feel this way at this point in my life, but there is a time and season for everything.