My son came home to Johannesburg yesterday after receiving an award in Cape Town for The Most Innovative Company 2020. His educational company nurtures creative young minds.
I live with him in a simple but lovely cottage on a plot of land overlooking a nature reserve. The cottage itself is not the greatest but the advantage of living here is being close to Johannesburg or Pretoria where my family and close friends are. The most important advantage for me is open spaces and closer access to nature with peace and serenity. I can’t find that deep in the cities and open spaces enrich, energize and replenish my whole being.
I woke up this morning full of fear for my future. I can’t live with my son forever. He has to move on. Fortunately, I live by the Spirituality of the Twelve Step principles starting with One Day at a Time. I can use this one day to plan for tomorrow without the terrifying vastness of the years ahead as I grow older. Creator Spirit/God is present in everything in our lives. I believe it is God who inspired the events of this morning to comfort me.
The first one was my son waking up with his usual chirpy funny way which immediately lifted my spirits. Then while I was outside I saw four Snake Eagles circling up ahead and very close by. Two juveniles and two adults. I watched them for about twenty minutes, hunting, swooping to the ground in seconds and vanishing up above again in a flash. I did not see their prey though but there are plenty of hare’s, mice, snakes and other small creatures for the eagles to eat.
This experience took me out of my sad thoughts and made me realise that I can look from above to see that I have a beautiful life with an abundance of friends, opportunities and a wonderful family filled with deep, beautiful love. I must have marked Isaiah 40:27-30 many, many years ago, the last verse being:
“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength;
they will mount up with wings like eagles,
they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary”.
So just like the eagles have a huge choice of prey, at the moment I have choices and an abundance of opportunities to earn a living. Which do I choose and how do I know which is the right one?
For now, I must learn from the eagle, be patient, circle, fly, take the thermals and be vigilant for the right moment to swoop down to catch their prey. I am not looking for prey but for the right opportunity. Fortunately, I am circling on a thermal and can see a few, what a blessing for someone who is nearly 65 years old.
So just for today, it is Sunday, I am going to do nothing……..
