What Are We Looking For ?
Picture from the Missouri Department of Conservation website
Since I moved to South Carolina, I have had a “bucket list” of animals I’ve wanted to see. I really love the diversity of nature and it’s a sacred moment for me to encounter something unique and uncommon. I still am in awe of deer, alligators, snakes, and even armadillos. But, for some reason, I have been obsessed with sighting certain birds that are celebrities around the low country. Early on I was able to observe a swallow-tailed kite. It’s a unique bird of prey, for sure. A few years ago, I had an up-close and personal encounter with a prothonotary warbler while fishing. It was a special moment. However, until recently, I had been on the hunt to see a painted bunting.
My quest ended a month or so ago when I was hiking with my family at Hunting Island State Park. As we were enjoying a stroll toward the beach, my daughter-in-law, Lauren, heard a beautiful trill and looked up. Lo and behold, the much-anticipated moment happened. Nestled in a notch in a tree, there sat the brightly colored little one I had been searching for. For me, it was a moment of celebration.
Surprisingly, I saw another one just recently. I was walking on trail near my house and the bunting landed on a white fence post just a few yards away from me. I stopped in my tracks and watched in awe as he flitted around for a few minutes.
I realize this all sounds a bit trivial considering all the struggles and chaos that surrounds us daily. But, looking at it in a different light, despite all the darkness, there are plenty of moments of brightness. It all depends on what we are looking for. If we open our eyes and our hearts to see the beauty around us, we will see countless examples. Sunrises and sunsets, the laughter of a little child, the smell of freshly baked bread, the taste of chocolate chip cookies, the feel of a cool breeze, and so on. I know we can’t ignore the difficult circumstances in our lives; however, those things do not have to negate the good. If we change our perspective, we can enhance what we see.
Not only am I happy to have seen a painted bunting, I want to be like one. I hope to bring color and light to counter the grayness that seems so prevalent. If we all try to infuse some act of kindness or beauty into our days, we can make a significant impact on balancing the harshness around us. What do we have to lose?