It is said that as a person ages they become one of several older archetype hobbyists. I have embraced the love for aviary creatures. 🤓
We’ve battled for several weeks with multiple robins trying to build nests on our light fixtures outside the front and back doors.
I can watch all the goings on my back porch from my favorite seat at the couch. I drink my cups of coffee and watch the birds doing what they do.
Finally this last week in the midst of an epochal hailstorm for this area, a robin built a massive nest in the back between waves of the storm. Within twenty four hours he’d made what appeared to be a completed project. And I’d watched it all unfold and decided with his commitment through the storm and speed of work I’d let him have it and we’d just watch as the eggs were laid, nested, and hatched. They’d have my back porch for a month for the young to grow and fly away. I’d lift my granddaughter to see into it: those beautiful blue speckled eggs, and the bald younglings that would emerge with mouths agape.
And suddenly a large portion fell not even twenty four hours later. For all his work of mudding and fixing and building it just didn’t remain intact. The robins abandoned the location all together. A few robins have come to inspect but none will take up to repair and build.
However, yesterday I watched as two finches began working at the remaining nest. At first I thought it was to take over and rebuild. Nope. They are only there to take parts of the nest and fly them off to wherever they are building their own. So I watch these new friends in their work, the beautiful little House Finch couple working away.
And I reflect on how things happen in life in the midst of all our work…all our striving. And eventually we all move on. And others may benefit from it in their own ways. And they move on.
And all of it under the watchful eyes of the one watching and caring for each creature along their way.
And if even for these moments my soul is quiet and my heart is okay. And I thank the one who watches and who knows and who loves.
