One Big Family

I noticed this rabbit enjoying breakfast at the edge of a trail last week. He spotted me and immediately froze. At first glance, freezing seemed like a poor defense, but I remembered something I had read. Assuming a posture of stillness makes the rabbit virtually invisible to its predators.

Rabbits know that their predators rely on movement as a signal to pounce, so they remain still in the face of danger. Brilliant.

Animals have a natural intelligence that allows them to survive and thrive.

There are so many examples of innate brilliance in the animal community. Steller’s jays can imitate the piercing cry of a hawk to scare away other birds, leaving more food for themselves. Whales use complex sounds to communicate with each other and effectively coordinate their activities.

Along with natural intelligence, animals also experience emotions and demonstrate compassion. They have families and social structures and traditions. It seems to me that we’re much more alike than different.

I suspect that we’re all members of one big family sharing this beautiful planet…

(New photos on website Gallery:  wandernature.com/new-photos)

Delight

This swallowtail butterfly landed in my yard not long ago. I’m fascinated with butterflies, and feel such lightness and joy emanating from them.

As I watched the butterfly flit around, I remembered a recent experience of lightness and joy that I had in the forest.

As I was rounding a bend on a path, I encountered a young man hiking alone. I was struck by his ear-to-ear grin and his bursting-with-excitement manner. He stopped to chat, and shared that he was from out of town, and had never been in an old growth forest before.

He was obviously so taken by the feeling of the forest that he could barely contain himself. So much joy…just like the butterflies.

Perhaps butterflies are reminders to let go of our ordinary selves, calling forth our lightness of being and joyous ways.

There is so much delight in nature…

(New photos on website Gallery:  wandernature.com/new-photos)

Natural Mess

I spotted this beautiful bird perched on a thistle plant, kicking up seeds as he searched for a snack. He was having a wonderful time making a natural mess.

As I watched the seeds float everywhere, I had a thought.

My life is not always neat and tidy, despite my human efforts to make it so. My human self has definite ideas and desires for my life. To make things happen, I plant the seeds of change in neat rows, keeping them orderly and predictably blooming. And then someone or something comes along and stirs it all up. So much for planning.

In my heart of hearts, I know there is a divine dream, a divine plan for my life, so much richer than my human self could ever contrive.

A human life is messy, but I wouldn’t trade it. The ups and downs and in-betweens make life quite interesting.

So, until the divine dream fully unfolds, maybe I could be more like this little bird and simply enjoy the occasional lovely mess.

And know that all is well…

(New photos on website Gallery:  wandernature.com/new-photos)