Week 10 - Rituals- The Sparrow

 

It was Monday, close to 3pm before I spotted my bird of the week. Walking across the church parking lot, I notice an entire flock of birds making lots of noise close to the bell tower.  Besides a grackle, this is the most common bird here on our church campus. Sparrows are frequent visitors of my feeder outside my office and also of the feeders outside of Mickey's office. Mickey loves all wildlife and knows the latest sighting of the family of hawks we have, and when the wild turkeys will reappear. He keeps my bird feeder full and clean and I am grateful for his love of birds and wildlife.  Side note, Mickey has visited most National Parks and given me all the quarters that present National landmarks on them.  It's very exciting when he leaves a feather or a quarter on my desk.  He helps me see past the "church world" even while working inside it. 
But, back to the sparrow.  The Sparrow was introduced to the United States in the 1800s in Central Park in NYC.  It is the most common bird across the globe.  When sparrows roost they typically roost in groups and there is much communal chirping before and after they settle for the night.  There is more chirping before they leave the roost in the morning. 
This tells me the sparrow values connectedness.  
What compels people to say "good night" and "good morning"  to those they live with? It is more than politeness I think.  Speaking to people before the day begins and as it closes, allows others into our day or even into our night.  This brings me back to Mickey. Mickey like many of my other precious single friends lives alone. He doesn't commune with others as he wakes or right before bed. However, he does love his routines which thankfully include people like me. He puts the seed in my feeder and he checks to see if the hawks are roosting.  My other dear friend, Morgan lives alone and is religious about calling her Dad on her way home from work.  There is comfort in their rituals and also their friendships.  
There are seasons for most of us when there is much communal chirping when we wake and go to bed. Maybe that season was childhood with siblings or college with roommates or the season of parenting small children. There are also though, seasons for humans at least when there is quiet in the morning and evening.  I am in this season now.  I miss the loud good nights and rambunctious mornings with kids needing me.  My friends like Mickey and Morgan are teaching me how to beautifully craft connectedness in new ways that feed different relationships and can give life to your day in a rich manner. 
- Me and the birds 

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