I’m old enough to know that we all go through good times and bad times. I realize that there are seasons of life. I understand that Heartbreak and Healing are first cousins. You often find them at the same birthday party if you look close enough.
But it seems that lately I’ve faced more sorrow than celebration. And to be honest, I am ready for a change in the mood. I’m ready for a party instead of a wake.
As a God-fearing, Indiana boy, I’ve said my prayers, I’ve attended church, I’ve ready the Holy Book. But the change is coming slowly. So at this point in my journey, I’ll settle for more of the unorthodox solutions. I’ll take a lucky charm, a rainbow, or a lucky rabbit’s foot.
Honestly, I don’t believe in mystical signs, Zodiac predictions or fortune telling but I can use a little luck so, as signs go, this has already been a good year and it is only mid-January.
My family has enjoyed the wonderful company of dear friends on the first day of the new year for nearly two decades. This family is as close to perfect as they come. I still marvel that they choose to spend time with us. This year, on our trip to the northern reaches of Indiana, we drove over the Wabash River at Logansport. It is a beautiful stretch of river with towering trees and open expanse of ice cold, crystal clear water that has washed the ancient stones and sand for millennia.
What caught my eye, in the upper branches of the largest Sycamore was a Bald Eagle. Perched majestically on the bows, this king of the air was a wonderful reminder of power, grace, agility and survival.
This past weekend, a Coopers’ Hawk made a kill in my back yard. It landed on our fence and surveyed the surrounding area. We watched as it methodically removed the feathers of its prey, digging into the small song bird. In a neighborhood of wood-framed houses, this bird of prey is making a very good living. Nothing has stopped it from soaring. Nothing has stopped it from surviving.
Two fantastic birds in less than two weeks! Now that’s a sign I can stick a feather into!
