A Lesson from a Starling

It was late on a Friday evening, nearing the end of set-up of the holistic fair I manage. The event takes place in a local Universalist church, and we had the large double doors at the small lobby in the front of the building open for loading in supplies and vendor materials. Above these doors is a large window. There is a second set of double doors on the inside of this lobby area (also propped open) with an open sort of artistic framework within the transom above.

Suddenly a bird flew into the room, and (luckily) immediately back out again. However, it went only so far as the exterior wall. This starling sat on the small ledge at the bottom of the window above the exterior doors and looked around, occasionally fluttering up to bash against the glass. He continued this for at least ten minutes, struggling against a seemingly impenetrable block while ten inches below was...a wide open exit!

Is this not a message for life? We get so caught up in fluttering, striking against obstacles, fighting for what we think is freedom, frustrated by lack of motion and blocks along our journey. When if we get still and pay attention, a clear, obvious solution is right under our noses! 

The struggle and frustration are what we're focused on, and so the Universe obligingly gives us more of that. "Why are you complaining? You asked for confusion!" It is in the stillness, the observation, the noticing that the healing takes place...the motion...the opportunity...the blessing...the opening!

Be still, and observe!

---