“. . . notice the birds and what they have to say about our world,” is part of what I said (almost a year ago now) that I was going to dedicate myself to moving forward.
Well, over the last few weeks, I’ve been waking up early in the morning, at least an hour before sunrise. (I mean, are any of us actually sleeping?) I’ve noticed there is one bird that starts singing the very moment that a tiny sliver of light appears in the East. I wish I knew bird song so well that I could tell you this being’s name (deep gratitude to Robin Wall Kimmerer for teaching me to refer to all living things around me as a being). Alas, I am still only capable of identifying a handful by their voices.
What is more important is that the sliver of light is so minuscule, so barely visible, that in truth, this bird is singing in the dark. It’s still dark enough that the world feels unfamiliar and a bit frightening. It’s still dark enough that if you and I decided to go out for a walk, we wouldn’t be able to stray far from the streetlamps without stumbling or losing our way.
It’s so dark still that the bird’s joyful and insistent song, frankly, seems sort of ridiculous. Honestly, when I first started really paying attention to it, even waiting to hear it, I kind of thought, “Lol. That bird is over-eager.”
But, in the last few days, I began to feel differently as I lay there in the dark, waiting to hear the bird sing. I thought, “That bird feels it. They believe. They know the sun will rise.”
Neighbors, denial is not helpful. We are in a dark and disturbing time, but maybe we should notice better what the birds have to say about our world? Maybe it’s our courage that will produce the light we’re so desperate for a sign of right now . . . we have to feel it, believe it, know it will come if we just boldly sing in the dark.
Just a short note for today, since we had an off-schedule, but urgent note last Thursday. What small actions have you personally taken or noticed others taking in the last week that feel as bold as singing in the dark?
Dang, this was so beautiful. I hope we can all become birds who sing in the dark <3
The Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell identifies bird song. I’ve learned so much from using it.