Flying Through The Rain

The feature that sold me on my new apartment was the large window right where my desk was destined to go. It gives me a lovely view of the row of houses on this sweet little block as well as trees galore and the rolling hills in the distance. Even more spectacular than that is the huge vista of sky that opens up in endless wonder. There is a regional airport a few blocks down for small aircraft only. Every day I get to see private aircraft, both planes with props and helicopters, land and take off, making great, sweeping turns before me. However, it is not the miracle of man-made flight that captures my heart. It is the endless performances of Mother Nature's natural pilots, the birds, that fascinates me the most.

Day after day, in all sorts of weather, I see the parade of my winged relations going about their lives. I see them play, hunt for food, perform aerial ballet, and often make me wish I could be up there with them. I think the one thing that amazes me the most about them, however, is to watch them when the weather turns from sun and open sky to rain and wind. While the planes down the road are grounded, these creatures, some of them weighing hardly more than a few ounces or a pound at the most, put their heads down and fly into the storm. They have somewhere to be, and something to do, and in most cases their lives or the lives of their little ones depends on them. I saw such a display the other day. The rain was coming down in sheets and the wind was howling ... and a very determined crow was flapping for all he was worth, making his way across the sky to what ever destination was calling to him. It was the most impressive act of grit and courage I have seen in quite some time.

How many of us would have that kind of courage? I don't necessarily mean going out into a literal storm. I am referring to flying through the storms of our lives. When our personal storms are howling all around us, how many of us can say that we can put our heads down and fly into the eye of the storm to get to where we need to be? What calls to us to perform this kind of spiritual feat? It is the knowledge that, if we can just hang on and make it through to the other side, sunshine awaits us. On the other side of the storms of our lives is the peace that we desire. If we have faith that even in nature, no storm can last forever, we can put out our wings and ride the wind to a new day and a new beginning. Believe in yourself and in the power of your spiritual "Co-Pilot." Even if your wings grow tired, your Co-Pilot can carry you the rest of the way.

This morning I am watching a battle between a big crow and a little squirrel over a piece of stale, discarded bread. As much as I love squirrels, my money is on the crow!

And so it is.