Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul-/And
sings the tune without the words-/And never stops-at all
– (from poem 254, by Emily Dickinson)
Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul-/And sings the tune without the words-/And never stops-at all – (from poem 254, by Emily Dickinson)
I received an extraordinary gift the other night as I was driving on an errand at about 11pm when in a split second I saw a dark shape move in the road in front of me. As I put on the brakes, it turned out to be a huge owl sitting in the middle of a lane on First Street (next to Mama Mia’s Restaurant). As my headlights beamed across its dark grey feathers, displaying flecks of light gray and white, it looked at me with its moon-shaped face, opened its 5-foot wingspan and suddenly sprang into the air.
Just inches from me, the great gray owl flew straight up into the dark sky, a gray ghost discovered unexpectedly in my bright beams as it went about its ritual haunting of the night. It was one of those moments … breathtaking.
My friend Debra said, “Wow! What an experience. You have been blessed by that beautiful bird. Old Grandmother Owl brings you a message. Because most owls are active between dusk and dawn, they are sometimes called ‘Night Eagles” or messengers from the dark side. If Grandmother Owl comes and sits nearby, it may indicate a need to peer into the darkness and face our fears. Or, a great mystery that is unfolding will be revealed by looking deeper into its meaning.
“Grandmother Owl is often thought to come to those who need to let go of some part of their life that is no longer needed. As a guide, the owl teaches us to see and hear past shadows, beyond fear and darkness, through to the other side that promises light, happiness and knowledge. You now have a Great Spirit Guide; Grandmother Owl will stay with you on your journey.”
My friend’s words bring to mind the journey into the unknown that began for my family 5 months ago when a mammogram revealed that my mother had breast cancer. During surgery for it in November, her blood pressure plunged dangerously low. That led to the surprising discovery that her heart is in very bad shape. Now after extensive testing, doctors say there is nothing more they can do for her. They tell us that her coronary arteries are closed and have turned to calcium. They are like cement. No heart bypass is possible because there is no blood flow at all to her heart except through one small opening in one artery, and that’s all that’s keeping her alive.
I keep wondering why there weren’t any symptoms to warn us that something was wrong sooner – no chest pain, no weakness or dizziness, no swollen ankles. She has been working full-time with handicapped children and regularly lifts 50-pound children in and out of wheelchairs at her job. The doctor said she has already had two major silent heart attacks in the past. He said that the hardening of her arteries is like old clogged plumbing and that there is nothing they can do, nothing she can do, no hope of getting better, and that she could die any day.
“Frankly,” he gave his verdict as she was lying in the hospital bed, “I’m surprised you’re alive at all.” He said any day that she lives should be considered a bonus.
Yet I can’t help thinking, isn’t that true for all of us? We’re all going to die, and none of us really knows when. We’re all terminal. Meanwhile, my mother continues to feel fine and has no symptoms. But now we are more aware than ever that every day is a gift.
In the words of one of our readers:
HOW TO LIVE LIFE
Be Calm … Quiet … Tranquil …
Bloom as often as you can …
Stay close to your Family …
Explore the world around you …
Enjoy the relaxing rhythm of waves …
W A T C H T H E M O O N R I S E …
Spread your wings and take off on your own …
Then enjoy the comfort of coming home again …
Life is short.
