A reminiscence.

     It was cold this morning.  Although the sun is shining the bitter north wind reminds me of winter.  Sadie-dog and I went out and did our slow jogging thing.  It was worth it...a blessing,  a reminder of spring....I heard my first meadowlarks of the year.
     I grew up on a farm in Nebraska, and for those of you who don't know, the Western Meadowlark is the Nebraska State Bird.  I heard them in the fields all the time was I was young and wondered how they could possibly make their trilling, fluting distinctive call.   I listen for them every year now in the park by our home as there is a lot of grassland there for their habitat, and still wonder how they make their music.
     Here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology page for the Western Meadowlark, you can see a picture and hear their call:
             http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_meadowlark/id

     Now, I am not religious, but would describe myself as being spiritual.  I love the following poem.    God, whoever he/she is, is to be found in nature. You can substitute "Universal Life Force" for God.

And the man whispered, "God, speak to me."
And a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.
So the man yelled, "God, speak to me!"
And the thunder rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen.
The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you."
And a star shone brightly.
But the man did not notice.
And the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle!"
And a life was born.
But the man did not know.
So, the man cried out in despair.
"Touch me God, and let me know that you are here!"
Whereupon God reached down and touched the man.
But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.
MORAL:  Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way you expect.
                                                 unknown