amazin grace

[babaruss]

<CENTER>Another sparrow died today, not long ago it would </CENTER><CENTER>have been an insignificant occurrence.</CENTER><CENTER>A ragged, stiff, bundle of feathers, to be removed from</CENTER><CENTER>the bottom of a cage and nothing more.</CENTER><CENTER>I had no connection with birds then, no involvement,</CENTER><CENTER>no reasons for caring one way, or another.</CENTER><CENTER>Funny how caring works, needing an investment first;</CENTER><CENTER>as a reason to love. Wonder where I learned such</CENTER><CENTER>thinking, and will I learn a better way.</CENTER><CENTER>One lone sparrow lingers, where once 50 lived.</CENTER><CENTER>The game of life has it’s own rules, dealing up</CENTER><CENTER>the strangest hands. Spared from euthanization,</CENTER><CENTER>to die a more lingering death. I’m sure there’s another</CENTER><CENTER>lesson there, but I’d rather give the ‘teacher’ a piece</CENTER><CENTER>of my mind. And learn of kinder subject matter later on.</CENTER><CENTER>Little time is spent for mourning today, more for reflection</CENTER><CENTER>than any thing else.</CENTER><CENTER>Asking myself questions: What could I have done </CENTER><CENTER>different. What, if anything did I miss. Am I responsible <CENTER>for all of this? </CENTER><CENTER>Calming myself, remembering; that there is no need for</CENTER><CENTER>blame, especially not for forces beyond my control.</CENTER><CENTER>Sitting again on my back steps, seeking focus, (clarity if you will). </CENTER><CENTER>A whirl of feathers drops to my knee, as evening</CENTER><CENTER>draws near. I know this little Mourning Dove...</CENTER><CENTER>how appropriate that this should be the one to now appear.</CENTER><CENTER>She was among the babies that we cared for, and released </CENTER><CENTER>earlier this year. I recognize the jagged part in her feathers </CENTER><CENTER>just above her right eye.</CENTER><CENTER>I stepped on her one morning in the aviary, hadn’t seen her</CENTER><CENTER>tiny form nestled in the straw just inside the door.</CENTER><CENTER>She almost died from that careless act, and yet, this most </CENTER><CENTER>forgiving bird is here, now comforting me. Amazing</CENTER>Grace <CENTER>visits me again...I feel privileged, (and so relieved).</CENTER><CENTER>The light starts to fade, and as quickly as she apeared, she</CENTER><CENTER>departs, flying up into the darkened foliage of a large bay tree.</CENTER><CENTER>Perhaps I’ll never quite understand this life I live.</CENTER><CENTER>Or ever become fully accepting that, I am but a witness</CENTER>to a great <CENTER>unfolding.</CENTER><CENTER>Nor, become completely open to receiving the miracles it has to give.</CENTER><CENTER>But I’m willing to try."</CENTER></CENTER>