Grace in Action – Small Steps

March already.

Happiness is daylight savings time, which happens this weekend. Although many people don’t like it, I love it. That extra hour of light in the evening represents freedom—a feeling that I have had, when the time springs ahead, since childhood.

Speaking of freedom, I attended a book group this evening with gracious people, discussing historian Timothy Snyder’s book On Tyranny. It is a tiny book with 20 lessons, which is part of my education in attempting to understand what is going on in the world. You would think this topic might devolve but it didn’t – it was an hour well spent with thoughtful and caring humans. Much more useful than the headlines and breaking news.

A personal note: A week today, I will be having much-anticipated surgery and will not post a blog next Wednesday. However, I will return on the 19th. This surgery is not life-threatening and will restore my quality of life at just the right time. By May, I hope to be back on my bike. Now that is good news!

I was premature with the change I plan to make to my blog. I will now wait for a few weeks to do that. Furthurmore, it is more of an addition than a change.

Tonight, I want to leave you with an exercise I thoroughly enjoyed. It goes like this:

“What’s your “spark bird?”

It’s a term bird enthusiasts use to refer to the species that inspired their love of winged things. It’s the bird that opened up the avian world to them, that made them realize, hey, these little guys with hollow bones are pretty spectacular.” CNN five Good Things

When I think about my interest in birds, it was there since childhood with the humble robin. But it was when I moved to Vancouver Island in 1973 and discovered the hummingbird that I became captivated. And then the songbirds in Austria and the many ducks on Berry Point Road, Gabriola Island, in Calgary it was the cedar waxwing and now in Ottawa the northern Cardinal.

Just a few of my favourites. But ohhhh the warblers, finches, and chickadee-dee-dee’s. Not to leave out the great blue heron, which surely is my spirit bird and the eagle. And the great white crane. And the snowy owl – all owls…
With apologies to any of my favourites that I forgot to mention.

I sent this out to my “birder” family in Vancouver and they enjoyed it as much as I did.

There is something beautiful about focusing and reflecting on birds, now and then. Nature contains multitudes, of which we are a part, and nature is a great teacher. Let’s keep our eyes peeled for the good and the beautiful. I suspect that noticing the wonders of the natural world will help us deal with whatever arises in our path.

Small steps are cumulative, whether exercise, making marks, joining a choir, taking a class, looking for signs of spring, holding our ground, or letting go. Sometimes, action is necessary, and sometimes, no action is the right response. Discernment is the skill.

No one can offer us peace of mind, but as Dr. Shoma Morita suggests, ” I have something better. Let’s cultivate a curious and flexible mind that can adapt to changing circumstances.”

This evening, a woman in my small book pod talked about trying extra hard to be nicer to people in everyday life. She figured that was something she could do, wherever she was, and whatever the circumstances. Just be a little kinder, she suggested.

I will go now. I send all my good wishes for your courage, strength, and equanimity so that you can deal with whatever is in your life. During difficult times, finding beauty and laughter is even more critical. Thank you so much for taking the time to read these weekly musings. See you in two weeks. A deep bow and warm hugs to you all, Trudy

PS Thanks Gottfried for the beautiful winter Japanese cherry blossoms on Gabriola Island.

PPS Thanks to Patricia Ryan Madson for this water colour. Patricia is the esteemed author of  Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up.  And to Kate K for an outpouring of kindness and generosity.