Morning Symphony

This morning, on my front porch I have my sweet pup in my lap, while cupping and sipping a mug of steaming coffee, lovingly prepared by my husband.  He knows the exact amount of creamer to add so I won't be overpowered with the actual taste of coffee.  :)  I bask in this beautiful day. The sun warms me outside while my coffee warms me inside.  I check my weather app and see 28 degrees Fahrenheit which, if no windy conditions exist, is perfect to sit with the sun streaming down on me radiantly as it is this morning. 

In addition to me, it appears the entire outdoor world is waking as well. I take note of tiny diamonds on each blade of grass which catch my attention. Those prisms created by dew dazzle with colors of the rainbow and the green and blue flickers captivate, but those red, yellow and orange refractions are gorgeous as well. Interrupted, I'm suddenly aware of the sounds of this morning; an ensemble of birds showing off their vocals in superb songs.

I love birds. I didn’t know how much until moving to homes with mature trees that would provide havens for birds to roost and congregate.  When it was time to move again, I was delighted to see the evergreens that lined our new backyard.  I knew if I would attract birds with proper food, they would be more than happy to gather nearby and provide viewing pleasure for us.  What I didn’t know is that we seem to have developed a Snow-White magnetism which draws more species than I have ever seen.  I’ve heard and seen more sounds from these magnificent little creatures in one year than I have in a lifetime.

Along with my coffee, I likewise drink in this morning and express gratitude for the gift of peace it's giving me.  I’ve learned to express gratitude, even in seemingly little things, because it boomerangs back to me with energizing gifts of encouragement, balance, and a sense of well being in the reality check of how good my life truly is.  Gratitude filters out the negative thoughts since we can’t think two things at once and I intentionally choose to let gratitude win in the battle over my thought life. 

Something else captures my attention this particular morning and I notice the sounds are more boisterous than usual.  I identify the roaring of semi’s on the nearby highway and I wonder why they're so loud.  Then I realize the birds are likewise louder than normal but they seem to be able to hold their own in the competition for the primary platform to be heard. The sound isn’t deafening but definitely more intense than usual. The contrast was remarkable as although the clamoring trucks should be the major player, as they bulldoze their way along the highway, they actually pale in comparison to the sweet melodies of these tiny creatures.  

Surprised, I’m able to drown out the highway commotion and focus on the song of the birds. Although each has a separate tune they seem to be in unison, each with their own melody yet harmonious with each other.  I can hear the sweet chirp of Robins; the distant tat a tat tat of the Red-Headed Woodpecker that loves to chip away on the wood beams of our deck; the caw caw of Crows and Blue Jays; the clicks of scarlet Cardinals along with their mates who, for protective and lovely design, are not as vibrant in color as their male counterparts.  Loud honks bellow from above as a few geese are making their way to the community pond. One of my favorite sounds is the coo of Turtle Doves as they communicate back and forth with their forever mate.  

Each has their own voice that can be heard as I focus.  Each has their own joyful way to add significance to the day.  Each has a part to play in the orchestra in the air and they don’t have to compete with one another.  They don’t compare themselves to each other.  Such a process would either produce a raised voice in feeling unheard or a silenced voice believing they have no value.  Comparison has no place in these gaggles and they refuse to enter into such a destructive practice. They are all beautiful in their own way because they are all different.  Each seems to have no care at all, no anxiety, no stress, just purely relishing the gift of life. Simple. Pure. Joy.

This free entertainment doesn’t involve a screen or device of any kind for which I am also grateful. 

My ex-mother-in-law, whose home is now heaven, would often tell the story of how she thought birds were terrifying and dirty. She formed this opinion because of a childhood incident.  Many of us formulate certain mindsets as children because we’re impressionable and vulnerable.  She would share how she was in her house when a bird suddenly flew in.  It took a while before her father was able to remove the bird, as his attempts to throw a sheet over it were to no avail for some time. Emotions of fear escalated in the frenzy.  Since the bird was likewise terrified, it flew about erratically, brushing against her, squawking in its attempts to free itself but not seeing a way out of its predicament.  The sounds, sights and sensations horrified her and from that point on she hated birds.

I would love to have had the chance to share this morning moment with her in hopes to give her a new perspective and experience the beauty of birds. I would invite her to come, sit and enjoy the warm sunshine on her face. I would give her a steaming cup of Joe because she loved her coffee black, refusing to pollute the bold flavor with creamers.  I would have her close her eyes so she wouldn’t be distracted.  

Isn’t it interesting how sometimes we have to “close” our natural eyes to “see” into the heart? 

Then I would ask her, “Hear that?”  Then I would be still and let the melodies of the morning take over.  I know, had she been given this chance, she too would have fallen in love with the symphony of the dawn's song and peace would have found its own home in her heart, replacing the fear that once resided there.  These sweet creatures were not to blame for the one so many years ago who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and acted out of fear, not knowing which way to turn, trapped, not seeing any options. 

I imagine a smile would cross her face, as she allowed the exchange in her heart to take place, uprooting prejudice with something lovely instead.  The very creatures she once despised could have become a magnificent joy, daily adding comfort and gifts to her life.

Opinions can rob us of something or someone who could give so much value to our lives.  They are sometimes formed from experiences either we or perhaps another person may have had.  Perhaps the event was stated accurately but oftentimes facts are subconsciously embellished for dramatic affect. Sometimes we jump on a bandwagon for which we don’t truly know the facts.  Facts can be so easily manipulated in this present day and age. Even with correct information, it’s still our choice what we decide to do with that knowledge.  When we accept negative opinion/bias there will be negative fallout and even more unfortunate, we have no idea how far-reaching the damage will go.

Isn’t it interesting how different experiences can formulate such different viewpoints about the same creatures?  Because of her experience, my mother in law hated birds yet I love them and find so much value in them.  Whether a small or significant incident, they can all form a huge impact that can last a lifetime if we let it.  Negative or biased opinions and prejudices we allow will become the thief of influential relationships and positive experiences we could have enjoyed had we addressed it bravely and honestly with ourselves. 

Although I humanized my metaphor of the birds, I’m sure we all have some “birds” flitting around in our mind that have actually stolen encounters and friendships that could have added so richly to us.

My invitation for each of you is to sit down in a safe and peaceful place, drink in the warmth of the moment, close your eyes and listen: who or what do you need to see in a new light? Allow the moment to transport you to a place of reconciliation as you let go of opinions that do not serve you or others well.  Release whatever weighs down, limits, and diminishes quality of life.  Forgive and let go who you need to, in order that you experience newfound freedom.  

Let’s be like the birds, soar with our highest potential and with liberty sing with the unique beauty of our own voice allowing others to sing with the beauty of theirs as one magnificent symphony of sound.

FURTHER INSIGHT:

God loves to use the nature He created to give us revelation to the reality of our world. So what follows is what I received: the noise of the highway represents the uproar of voices of prejudice, hatred, bigotry, contention, political and religious spirits, strife and opinion.  It all comes from a large place of arrogance that says I’m better than you, represented by the semi that can seem the biggest presence on the road we all travel, (life). That "noise" is actually rooted in arrogance which we all have to deal with to some measure and probably will for the rest of our lives. We can surrender one level of arrogance only to later discover another deeper level of it.  Arrogance reveals itself anytime we divide by putting one person up to a certain level, (which is usually ourselves) while putting another down to a lesser position in our heart. Arrogance also has a self-righteous side which believes it is right, or holds the correct opinion, and others are wrong.

The sun shining brightly bringing warmth and peace is Jesus, Son of God.  If we let Him shine on us and relish in His presence we will warm up to the fact that there are areas in our mind and heart we are not seeing and His light will show us what that is if we just get quiet before Him and let Him have His way.

And finally, those sweet joyful birds!  They represent all who walk in love and are secure in themselves, comfortable in their own skin as well as other's; who see each other’s differences yet embrace and enjoy the beauty of those differences; who allow that unification to make us even more stunning then we would be if we stood alone.  The softer voice of love bathed reconciliation will always be the one that prevails.