Tweeter Account

I DROVE TO COSTCO the other day and was astonished to secure a parking spot within walking distance of the entrance! As I began to don my N-95 before stepping out of my truck, I noticed a woman standing on the other side of the median staring up into a small tree while shading her eyes from the sun. Wary of people doing abnormal things in these strange times, I lingered a few extra moments to make sure it was safe to exit. I heard the muffled tones of a bird chirping and decided to investigate straight away.

Upon stepping out of my vehicle, I looked up into the aggressively pruned branches of a crepe myrtle tree in front of my parking spot and saw a tiny sparrow, its beak aimed toward the heavens, singing vociferously with great enthusiasm, a complex tune. And now—there were two of us, in the Costco parking lot, motionless, staring at a bird in a tree. I admit I stood quite disoriented for two or three minutes (it seemed much longer), wondering what this could mean.

Finally, the bird paused long enough for me to comment to the lady on the other side, “Wow…I think I needed to hear that today!” Awkward, I know, but I felt that something needed to be said. She replied, “I know! And I believe I must stay to see how this ends.” Well, I silently disagreed with that plan and soon walked away without looking back. I was gratified to see that both the lady and the bird were gone as I exited the store about 30 minutes later.

Still, I scanned the parking lot for suspicious activity as I moved ever closer to my vehicle. And then, just as I cranked the engine, several sparrows suddenly gathered in that same tree, inches from my hood. Their sound! Imagine, if you will, an angelic choir. . . of piccolos. And that's when I started looking around everywhere. It could just be a meaningless moment in time. Or, maybe I was meant to hear this for some future reference, or, well, now.

So I'll take it as my own private concert. A tip-o-the-hat to God's creatures. As life in the COVID19 era has made most days so bleak and boring, by contrast, these little ones remind me to look around and be in awe of God's creation. A scientist can tell us how birds fly, all about their habits, and of all the different tunes they sing. And I'm certain someone could shed light on the scientific reason(s} these birds were behaving as they were. But they can never take the wonder away. I cannot claim to be a scientist, but I know wonder when I see it. And I wish for you also a wonder-filled day!

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