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Thursday, August 01, 2013

Wing-ed Treasures



"My profession is always to be alert to find God on nature,
to know God's lurking places to attend to all the oratorios and the operas in nature."
~ Henry David Thoreau



One fine Spring day, we sat on the patio with our morning coffee. Enjoying the show of many birds as they swooped in for a share of their favourite breakfast seeds, weren't we surprised when one of our resident tree swallows landed on my husband’s white garden hat (which sat atop his head at the time).

Apparently tree swallows like white feathers to build their nests with, so maybe Mr. Swallow thought Rick's hat was a big feather. What a treat to see him fearlessly perched within arm's reach. How pretty were his iridescent feathers as they glimmered in the sunshine.

Not long after that day, I found a large bumblebee struggling on the floor in my living room. I assume he'd been trying to get back 'out there' where he belonged, to no avail. I scooped him up with a tumbler glass and paper, so I could set him down in the garden to recover. But he crawled off the paper onto my finger and sat a moment, his little body heaving. I said a little prayer for him in case he was injured, and then suddenly he spread his tiny wings and flew away.

I love these encounters with nature's tiny creatures—they are such an amazing and beautiful part of our world. So small we almost don't notice... unless we stop to look.

Too many wilderness places around us are being razed to the ground for 'new developments'..... and rather than going into a lament or a rant about it (I do on occasion quite often), we are trying to remain serene as we remember we do create a little haven in our corner of the world for a few of these, God's wing-ed treasures.

I'm glad our paths cross with these wondrous ones.

Wishing you glimpses in those unexpected places,
Brenda
xox

Photo source:  Brenda Leyland








8 comments:

  1. Your heart so comes across in this post. While I would have loved seeing the swallow, I would not have been so careful with the bumblebee and they really need so e TLC these days.

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  2. It was almost as if the bee was saying, thank you, to you.

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  3. I have a rose just outside my bedroom window. Almost every morning a bee comes to visit, and happily buzzes around the flower. It's wonderful to watch this busy little creature.

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  4. Hi Brenda! Lovely! Listening to a chorus of "winged-ones" this morning as I write. Air conditioning is off and this beautiful morning allows the joy of open windows!

    I want you to know that I received your beautiful handwritten letter and was moved to tears. Crazy - we post on fb and send emails, and blog, and are in constant communication with people these days, but a handwritten letter - quite the norm just some 20-30 years ago - and a way of life 100 years ago - but today . . . it is truly a treasured gift! Thank you for making me the recipient of one.

    I have chosen a lovely bit of stationery to return the gift but have yet to make the quiet time to write. Even today - I have another post to get out and an afternoon meeting. Gah! Taking a summer sabbatical doesn't seem to clear the decks of as much responsibility as I thought.

    Please know a letter is forthcoming this very month!
    Be ye joyful!!
    Kathy

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  5. Aren't brushes with nature amazing? I enjoyed reading about your encounter with the bumble bee. I had similar experience...rescuing a bumble bee with cup and paper and taking him outside. He buzzed at me quite loudly when I left him on a fence post. I don't know if he was saying thank you or get lost though! :o)

    Enjoy your weekend!

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  6. I am happy that you posted this from your archives, as I have only "known" you a short time and had not read this before. I loved the story of you and the bee! My mother carries spiders out of her house on envelopes, so I thought of her as I read. It is a good thing, I think, to have tenderness towards God's creatures.

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  7. thanks for the reminder to slow down and smell the roses, watch the wildlife and give thanks for it all...

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  8. While we were in the Rockies on vacation, I was so thankful for leaders in the past who set aside these large tracts of land to preserve. The wilderness is so amazing, from majestic mountains and lakes to the tiniest insects. I'm always happy to see the bees buzzing about my garden.
    Love the story of you and the bee.

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo