In your own backyard

I have my office door open. The breeze (a bit chilly, but fresh) carries through my door alternate sounds of my backyard morning. Cars heading past carrying someone into the day, my fountain bubbling to itself, a mourning dove’s cooing and all sorts of backup bird choruses.

Among the bird songs is one that I’m not so very fond of. In fact, it brings out my hunter instincts every time the sound emits from the little  woodpecker responsible for the single-pitched shrill squeak that substitutes for a chirp or a whistle. Perhaps my friend the woodpecker provokes my ire because he is the first one up in the neighborhood and he seems to give his morning wake up call from our bedroom window sill (which isn’t true, but it feels as if I could reach out and choke him.)

He’s out there now somewhere, waiting to sound his little whistle alert to his friends if he finds some new drilling target. And I could spend my day thinking about “that damn woodpecker.” I could wait for him to come along and spoil the birdsong of the morning. Or, I could honor the woodpecker for his unique skill set including

…an ability to drill straight into the heart of a grapefruit without ripping it apart in the process—oh that we could get to the core of an issue with such expediency and so little damage

…the resilience to keep singing his song even though he bangs his head into huge immovable walls all day long
…the tenacity to hang onto the steepest surfaces without fear

The irritating birds in your life serve a purpose. The rocks have a place in the garden.

If we tune out the messages we don’t want to hear or judge as ill fitting, we risk missing exactly what we need the most.

It’s easy “in these times” to dwell on the negative in absolutely every situation, but let’s take a tip from my squeaking friend and drill a little deeper to find the goodness that nurtures our soles. It’s still there my friends. There is still cause for singing of joy with all your heart. There is still peace and beauty. And maybe it’s in your own backyard.

Have a beauty-filled day, wherever you are!

This was taken this morning as I sat down to write. I send this out to all of you who are winter-weary as a reminder that the sun is always shining and flowers are always blooming somewhere!

0 comments 0 people listening

Sign in

• Comment help
• Get Livefyre

Post comment as

+ Follow conversation Following - Unfollow

Post to

Sort: Newest | Oldest