Birds of the Air

Despite not gracing this particular photo, I can say that numerous birds were in attendance this morning at a scenic location north of Brisbane, Queensland. It was estimated that about 20,000 soldier crabs were present too. I think I also saw a fish splash around in the distance at one point. 

As a family group, we were 'in situ' to try and solve some complexities, and I'd been reflecting on the words, "look at the birds of the air..." from the book of Matthew. Enacting this idea has long had the effect of helping me to shift from earthly worries to experiencing the divine. That's why, years ago, I envisioned a collection of music called Harmonic Reflections, that featured a pelican on the CD cover. That's also why 2 bird events are among my most precious recollections from the first cruise that I ever went on with family members. The first was a lone pelican flying majestically around Lake Eacham in North Queensland and the second was the mesmerising spectacle of being accompanied for miles and miles by hundreds of birds as our cruise ship sailed south from Willis Island.  

Last night, watching the above scene, Mum and I were amused by an Ibis heading for a particular tree, being blown off course, and then nonchalantly landing in a different tree. No-one saw that, right!? Apart from birds, we were amazed by the tenacity of trees withstanding the force of tide and sea, day in, day out. I'd walked out past the photographed tree and then used it as a guide to make sure that I headed back to shore in the right direction. It was like a guiding star. 

There are other things that help me to relinquish the ego and bathe in the divine. There's nature in general, there are people (not strictly things), there is music. (The 2nd movement of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto in E flat is worth a listen in my opinion). There's something internal too. There's a voice. It's in the rustling leaves and the chortling birds. It's in the wind too, which blows where it pleases.