An Unexpected Dove arrives at lunch
Good Morning, God!
Yesterday, after the person on my right left the luncheon — this dove arrived — looking for all the world as if she had been invited.
Mostly I shoo away birds landing on plates anywhere near me. And, I guess, I should have shooed this one away. But, our eyes met, and I was struck that This Dove was a Fellow Creature.
Seeing her up close I could appreciate the delicate grays of her plumage and the lovely shading around her eyes.
It made me think of Jesus’ words about the lilies of the field being adorned more beautifully than King Solomon in all his glory. (Matthew 6:28-30) Such care You have, God, for lilies that last such a short time — such care for small birds. too.
You have Care and Compassion, too, for all Your Creatures. Sigh. It made me think, God, of how much slides by me, unnoticed.
Noticing . . . acknowledging the Presence of another . . . even by a quick meeting of the eyes and a nod . . . links us together.
Our oldest daughter, Suzanne, was sharing how upsetting it is for her when her fellow customers in restaurants fail to notice and acknowledge those there to assist them.
Respect for one another . . . I guess that maybe Respect is the Foundation of Love? I hadn’t put those two together before. In fact, I had separated them. But, now that I am sitting here thinking about it. Respect seems to be the very First Step in loving ourself and others.
Lissa Rankin had a wonderful article the other day calling for greater compassion. In it she talked about her visits to AA meetings as part of her medical education. She said that after hearing people share she came away with so much respect for what people had suffered — suffered and survived.
Hearing, Expanding our Hearts, Respecting . . . all are so healing . . . for ourselves . . . and for our world.
Story teller,
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