While out for a walk this afternoon I was captivated by the sight of a soaring red-tailed hawk. The scene evoked an ever growing appreciation of nature’s beauty. Standing atop a hill I watched as it gracefully glided up and down and around above and below the tree tops at the edge of the woods with wings spread out wide and barely flapping in the strong wind and I couldn’t help thinking about the elegance of its movements. But all is not as it appears. Though the hawk’s flight was a joy to behold, we know it to be a large and aggressive sharp-taloned bird and what we may view as a splendid and glorious air show is in reality a search for prey – an unsuspecting rabbit, vole or mouse. (If you ask me, a few less mice in the world would not be a bad thing.)
We can ponder how events or sights in nature can image many experiences in our own lives. The apparent effortlessness of the hawk’s flight evokes a bit of envy – life for us humans is rarely all that easy. And the sheer beauty of the graceful flight is in part a deception for the intent is the destruction of life. Yes, it’s all a part of survival in the animal world but it is not appropriate or acceptable behavior to prey upon one another in the human world.
Jesus cautioned the people of his time to beware of those who outwardly appeared righteous and honorable and yet have the inner intent of causing hardship to the vulnerable (Mark 12: 38-40). There are times when we too need to be cautious of those who would deceive us by singing their own praises with flashy words, promises and titles and those who may attempt to lead us away from our true identity and responsibility as beloved creations of the Sacred. Each of us is richly blessed with our own talents and gifts not to be flaunted but to be unselfishly and humbly shared – to uplift and to care for others with compassion, mercy and love...just as abundantly as we are loved by the Holy.
Peace on the Journey.
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