Happy New Year. Many of us are approaching this one with some caution. Full of joy that the last one has passed, but struggling to find optimism in this one. I hope these two stories, one from December and one from yesterday, will help.
A bit more than a year ago several oak trees came down in a storm. I was heartbroken to lose those beautiful forest elders. Aidan cut great lengths and slabbed them into lumber that we hope to use in the future. We’ll create shelves and tables that will help us remember and honor what was. We cut up the rest into movable sizes, knowing it was way too much firewood for our needs. Unlike any other winter in recent history, we are home. Everyday. We need more firewood than we could have predicted. We were thankful as we cut and split the wood in November. But there was still so much. December was colder than usual and we asked a neighbor if she knew anyone in need. She did. Five members of her church showed up and loaded four trucks of wood for folks who don’t have money for heating fuel this winter. They will probably be back for more this month. We didn’t know what would be needed. We couldn’t see why the trees had sacrificed themselves. But they knew, and they did what needed to be done. For us. I hope that we do what needs to be done, for each other, and for the trees.
Yesterday a tufted titmouse flew into our window. Hard. I was sitting just a few feet away and the sound stunned me. The bird did what I can only describe as a few seconds of incredible break-dancing and then lay on its side on the porch. A dove had been sitting on the railing. She flew down to the porch a few feet from the titmouse and sat motionless. Minutes ticked on. I couldn’t look away, trying to will the one bird to fly while wondering what the other was doing there. At the ten minute mark I was sure he was a goner. But then he lifted his head a bit. The dove flew off. It took another minute for the titmouse to right it self and then a grueling (for me) twenty or so before it finally flew. I don’t know anything about bird behavior, but all of my hopes for this new year ride on the narrow shoulders of that dove. Did she offer comfort? protection? I say yes.
Happy New Year. If we listen to the true voice within us we will be okay. It is in our nature to help each other move forward.