Paying attention to God's creation

(A familiar friend at Hilton Head)

The one thing I know for sure is that in the scheme of things, we are small. When we assume that human life is it, we cease to live outside our own brains and lives. I am reminded of this each time I feast my eyes upon the birds I love to watch so dearly. Once you start actually paying attention to something in the world other than your job, personal strife, or how much life is costing you, it's only then that you can then put things into perspective. It's so easy to become overwhelmed in life about things fully beyond our control. By stopping to look around you at God's creation, you can then see the trees in the forest. You can smell the roses, and appreciate the beauty of the birds.

I watch them, my bluebirds specifically, as they spend all their time and energy seeing that each year, they bring forth several new broods into the world. They work tirelessly first hatching them, then feeding them, then teaching them to fend for themselves. It's quite beautiful and moving to witness the cycle. Just yesterday, dad bluebird came flying into the feeder followed by the latest three to fledge. It makes me smile to remember to focus on the things that really matter in life. It's a privilege to have so much beauty around us to soak up if we only look and listen. It seems that no matter where I am, or where I go, I notice the birds. I always see bluebirds around me, and enjoyed the one in the photo above who was tending to a new nest in Hilton Head. It's as if God just sends them to me as a reminder to dwell in the light...