“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.” Aristotle
I was walking out the door to drive football carpool when the telephone rang. It was my oldest son. His car broke down and it needed a tow. I was already on a tight schedule but since my name was on the AAA membership, I had to be there when the tow truck arrived. While he was counting on me to come to his rescue, two other sons and a teammate needed a ride to practice, too.
So I did what most mom’s do. I mentally shifted gears and devised a Plan B.
I would rush to my son’s aide and simply trade cars. He could take my car to drive carpool while I waited with his for the tow truck. Problem solved.
The car had stalled on a narrow tree-lined road so, for safety’s sake, I sat off to the side on a small patch of grass. The silence was broken only by the occasional noise of a passing car. Then I heard a peculiar sound. I listened more closely; perhaps it was the slow plodding of an approaching jogger. I stood up to look around but there was no one in sight. I heard it again and followed the sound with my ears – looking up to see a flock of birds flying overhead. With my ears and eyes now focused on the birds, I finally made the connection. The powerful flapping of their wings was producing a distinct and pulsating sound. I have watched birds soar in the sky a million times, but never before have I heard the rhythmic reverberation created by their wings.
The sound was captivating! I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy this precious gift of nature.
Well-planned days in my life are often thrown into disorder by the pressing needs of my family. I used to resent these disruptions until I came to terms with this reality: interruptions are just a function of being a mother. And writing from home gives me the flexibility to respond to my kids when they need me the most. Now when there’s a snag in my schedule, I’m more likely to recognize the opportunity to open a window of possibilities.
A stalled car. A quiet road. A puzzling sound. This unlikely chain of events formed a memorable moment of appreciation for the brilliance of nature.
A simple flock of soaring birds brought such sweet music to my ears.
