Being Fed: 19 July 2009

Dear Friends,

This past week I noticed a different sort of bird perched on the crossbar of our close line post. At first glance it appeared to be one of the male orchard orioles who frequent the hummingbird feeder. But its colors were much darker and I could see not even a hint of the deep orange belly coloring characteristic of this species. So, I got out the binoculars to take a closer look. Still I couldn’t tell what kind of bird it was but it definitely was not an orchard oriole and…to my surprise, instead of seeing one bird, there were two sitting very closely side by side. I went to fetch the camera, hoping by the time I returned to the window they would still be there. They were. I zoomed into Macro for a close-up and concentrated more on holding the camera steady than the image in the view finder, though I was certain when I snapped the picture the image of those two little winged creatures would be recorded. Reviewing my digital “masterpiece”, although it was a bit fuzzy, I was both surprised and delighted at what I saw: not only could I identify these birds as barn swallows, which I have never before seen perched anywhere in our yard, but mother swallow had swooped in to feed her young! (Click on picture for a larger view, then click the "Back" arrow on your browser to return here.)

That got me to pondering ways in which we are nourished, or fed. Physically, of course, there is food – the meals and snacks we eat. Some are healthy and nutritious concoctions; others are, well, just plain junk food that contribute little to our physical well-being but can be oh so tempting and tasty treats. Our bodies are also nourished and rejuvenated by rest, relaxation, and activity. Emotionally we are nourished through our relationships with others, provided those relationships are life-giving. Engaging in reading, stimulating conversations, learning new things nourishes our intellect. Spiritually we are nourished, or can be, in a variety of ways – taking time to notice the wonders and power and play of creation while walking in the woods or on a beach or even in our own back yard; reading books or articles by authors we find inspirational (Henri Nouwen, Parker Palmer and Thomas Merton come to mind); scripture reading; engaging in spiritual practices such as meditation; centering, breathing, or any kind of prayer; journaling; attending a church service; taking time away from our busy, activity-driven lives to rest and renew; seeking out a spiritual companion with whom we can delve into our deepest desires and questionings; etc., to name a few. Unlike those two little swallows, we humans do not always have to depend on others to force-feed us spiritually, though a relationship or a connection is integral to our sense of spiritual nourishment.

After a time away engaging in getting “the message” out, “The Twelve” returned, probably both excited by their experience as well as exhausted. And Jesus said, “"Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while" (Mark 6:31). He well knew the value and necessity of rest to renew and restore physical stamina as well as, and importantly, the opportunity solitude presents for an intimate, life-giving connection with not only each other but our inner selves and our Sacred Creator as well. Unfortunately for them at the time, their popularity was well known and the crowds actually beat them to their intended place of rest. But that this occurred is ultimately fortunate for us in that we become able to inject ourselves into the story and identify with that crowd who intentionally sought out the “food” that would nourish and sustain their spiritual hunger.

Unlike those little swallows that waited patiently for their mother to bring food to them, we are invited to seek out ways to nourish our very souls. Because each of us is wonderfully and uniquely created and though we may have had similar but clearly distinct life experiences, there is no one “right way” or path or practice for everyone that will lead us toward spiritual enrichment, for there exists many ways. I believe the key to seeking spiritual nourishment for ourselves directly relates to the depth of our commitment and intentional desire for interconnectedness and relationship with The Divine and with all of creation.

Peace on the Journey