More bird stories

Yesterday, after the Cooper's Hawk caught breakfast, probably in my backyard, I continued to watch the birds at the feeders. They slowly returned and before long the feeders were filled with birds. They'd fly in to the feeders and then out and off. All of a sudden one small yellow finch flew into our sliding glass door. It lay on the ground, stunned. My cat was sooo excited and wanted out. My dog was glued to the screen. I moved the cat and dog and went out to check on the bird. It was lifeless. I felt so sad. Again, trying to feed birds had cost one it's life. So I used a small shovel and scooped it up and laid it under a tree behind my fence. When I went back to look a few minutes later the bird was gone. Gone. I have no idea where or how or why. Maybe I just couldn't find it under the tree. Maybe something took it. Maybe it flew off. Who knows.

Later I saw my cat and dog looking out the other screen door, the front door. This screen door is heavy duty, a security door. I wondered what the cat and dog were looking at. So I wandered over. Yes, you guessed it, a bird. I have no idea how this house wren ended up in the corner between our house and the screen door. But it didn't look good. I pulled the dog and cat inside the wood door hoping that the wren would fly away. Later, when we went out to walk the dogs we saw the wren, clearly dead, a few feet away from where I last saw it.

So peculiar, a day of life and death, of feeding and being fed, of saving life and giving up life, of hope and sadness. I am crafting my own response to the changes here. I am working with the staff to help them understand and be prepared for the questions and concerns they will get. Because the staff are all members of the parish, they will hear things. The staff is all on board and good to go. Then, when the vestry meets we will continue to craft a response, written if necessary.

No death today, just life....and hope.

Comments

Grace thing said…
I love all those birds! I'm praying for you. sigh. can't please everyone. I just know you're doing a wonderful job. Prayers for strength and trust.
hang in there friend... you were called. called. called.

living with a bird-dog the birds stay high up in our yard... cardinals, doves, bluejays, the old grey owl, oh and the finches, sparrows, and crows (yuck!)
RevDrKate said…
hope....hope is a very good thing, that and dreams, and visions. Also good. Hold fast. Praying for you all.
I've been remembering you in my prayers. And I love the last line of your post.
Sally said…
funny how nature speaks simply to us about life and death....hold onto that hope!
Terri said…
working to hold onto hope
Rev SS said…
(((o)))) mompriest ... IF you feel like some diversion, I tagged you for the Start of Summer Meme.
Terri said…
ss, I'll play - just give me a day or so! whoo hoo, play time!
Barbara B. said…
In the words of the great philosopher Grover from Sesame Street: Where there's life, there's hope.

(And I would have tagged you for the meme, but rev ss beat me to it!)
Katherine E. said…
Ahhh, the hope we receive from one another, mompriest. The integrity, beauty and honesty of your blog gives me hope. Thank you.

(and in response to your comment on mine--I appreciate the encouragement, and, YES, oh yes, it would be great to be able to meet you for coffee...that would be a source of even greater hope and encouragment, I know...for both of us)

Hope it's been a good week for you!
Diane M. Roth said…
(((mompriest)))
still praying for you.
God called you here. Yes.

Popular posts from this blog

The Bleeding-heart: a poem by Mary Oliver

A Funeral Sermon: Healed by Love

Luke: A Mary Oliver Poem