Birds and life

I am here, at the beach. At my favorite beach, Vero Beach in Florida. It is unbelievable the changes that have been wrought here by the tropical storm that hit here over the summer. At first I was not happy, but then I had to step back and look at the power and magnificence that caused such change and I could not stay unhappy. I was too busy being impressed and awestruck.

This morning I went walking on the beach. It is a stormy day so I was getting soaked, but I could not stop. I just love it so much. I do not even know how to begin to describe the emotions that the pounding waves evoke in me. As I was walking, I came upon a flock of snipes, doing their silly little dance in the waves as they search for food. I love watching them. So I paused in my walk just to observe for a time. I noticed that there was one bird that was not quite in sync with the others in the flock. He was not moving as quickly and was therefore hitting the wave wake much earlier than the others and not moving as far down that wake. Then I noticed that he was missing a foot on one of his legs. He had only a stump. But he was finding a way and looked as healthy as the others, with that one exception. I was fascinated and so I sat down in the sand and watched more intensely. I was struck by the focus of my little friend. The other birds were goofing around and playing and occasionally eating in the midst of their play, but not Sir Stumpy. He was totally zoned in on finding his food and watching and gauging the waves. I sat there thinking that I need to be a great deal more like Sir Stumpy. I have a number of handicaps. I need to see past them and stay focussed and do what needs to be done. I need to make my focus NOT be the handicaps, but all the ways I can overcome and work around the handicaps.

As I was pondering all of this, the most beautiful thing happened. Something spooked the flock and they took off. And...lo and behold...Sir Stumpy could FLY! Oh baby, could he fly!! He was, by far the strongest flyer of the flock. And I watched as they flew and landed a couple of times and it was obvious that Sir Stumpy was the leader of this flock. He was calling the shots and making the decisions for this group. Whoa. Not only can I do better at not focusing on my handicaps, I can even lead. I can lead, perhaps not in spite of my handicaps, but because of them. And furthermore, there are balances for my flaws. Just as Sir Stumpy can FLY even though walking is an issue for him, there are talents that God has given me that allow me to FLY, that offset the handicaps and allow me to soar, every so often so that I am better able to handle the flaws that sometimes seem so glaring.

As the flock wheeled off, out of my vision, I found myself tearing up and waving a thank you farewell to Sir Stumpy and his family. I am very grateful for a rainy walk on the beach and a small bird who was open to teaching me a lesson.

Now...enough words...I am headed back out into the waves!