Walking With The Birds

One the beach the other morning…it's difficult to find the words to express the feeling we both felt…while walking with the birds. As usual we began this walk in darkness…it's something we both adore but at first light a flock of sandpipers flew in and joined us on the shore. They were not afraid of us as they searched the sea for breakfast and sang their morning songs. In fact, when they noticed we were there…they invited us to walk along. As they dashed back-and-forth dipping their beaks into the water or in the sand along the shore. We just had to ask them, "Hey sandpipers! What is it you're searching for? " "Every day we search for food to help us survive, " one sandpiper said, But we search for joy and happiness as well." "And today our survival and our joy and happiness can be found inside these shells." Deborah and I stared at each other…a look that can best be described as quizzical. Both thinking…who knew sandpipers along the beach could be so metaphysical? We talked philosophy with the birds for a while… (after all there was so much to discuss) and after finishing their breakfast they asked, "Would you like to fly with us? " "We're about to head over to that island…it's just a short flight across the sky." With our heads bowed we said, "We'd love to…but we don't know how to fly." Every sandpaper turned and looked at us…for a moment they were frozen to the shore.. "If you can't fly, " they asked, "then what were your arms created for? " As we tried to explain the birds chuckled…said goodbye then flew off to that island across the sea… leaving there on the shore the only animals that cold not fly… that would be Deborah and me. Those times in life when we think we are better and more intelligent than the animals just because we have a bigger brain and can express ourself in words…. It's good stop…to take a moment…and go walking with the birds..