Natural Kindness

Watching this beautiful dark-eyed junco, I couldn’t help but smile. I love nature’s small beings.

As the little bird rested quietly on a branch, I had a remembering of another small being. A young boy I met on a trail. His expression was serious as he stopped to show me something.

Cradling his hat in his hands, he revealed small feathers he had collected along the path.

He was certain the bird who had lost the feathers was just up ahead. And the bird was cold. His plan was to return the feathers to the shivering little bird.

His father and I exchanged smiles…such innocent kindness. One of our finest human qualities.

How grateful I was for the reminder…

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)

Resilience

Yesterday, I awoke feeling anxious about all that’s transpiring in our world. And I remembered a quotation I had recently read: ‘The sun is always there; it’s the clouds that come and go.’

I thought about that as I headed to one of my favorite rivers.

I stood on the bank, and spotted this beautiful common merganser paddling downstream. Such ease and grace. I admire animals’ resilience. They face challenges, adapt and change, and move forward.

And I realized that I can do the same. I can be with my feelings, seek support when I need it, and know that change is a constant in this life.

As I watched the duck disappear around a bend, I felt reassured that the dark clouds will pass.

I took a breath and wandered on...

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)

Connected

Wise beings have suggested that what happens to one of us happens to all of us. Though our interconnectedness may not be visible to the human eye, it’s no less real.

I thought about that as I watched a group of house finches enjoying their breakfast.

I marveled at their synchronized dance...graceful movements from branch to ground back to branch. And I realized they were taking turns gathering seeds that had fallen to the Earth.

Within the dance, this little finch received all he needed, as did all the birds. They naturally shared the bounty of the Earth.

They were in it together, cooperating for the good of everyone.

My fervent wish for our world...inspired by nature.

(Link to New Photos: wandernature.com/new-photos)