This morning amidst cloud covered skies and pouring rain, I listened as one solitary bird began to sing. The howling of the winds, as they seemed to add an ominous threat to a gloomy scene, could not drown out the greeting that this one bird gave the dawn. Here surrounded by the tempest this tiny creature sang the same song that led one to think of a warm summer's days under bright translucent sunlight.

What I thought could cause one bird to sing in the midst of such a storm? What indeed? Maybe there is a message in this song as our world seems driven by fear and dark news. Here despite all that nature could throw at it this one tiny heart defiantly dares to sing. One heart that simply refuses to huddle beneath springs bare branches for cover. One small heart that reminds us of days ahead as it calls to us breaking through the din and making us smile at the courage, the hope in each note.

While I continued to watch through the rain covered window I noticed another bird fly pushing against the wind to land beside this morning orator. Then, even though the wind seemed to violently oppose the attempts, other birds appeared wings cutting through the invisible gusts to land them gently in surrounding branches. They seemed to sit motionless for a moment as if to be pondering on the very reason they had come in this storm to this place. Then one by one they began hopping from branch to branch and the tree no longer seemed so naked against the grey sky as it came to life in movement and in song.

Often I have written on courage yet seldom have I witnessed such natural unselfish courage as displayed by this one small bird. His song had reached out drawing to these others a hope so deep that they too began to sing. I found myself wishing that I could somehow let this little bird know that his song had also touched me on this morning. That I was brought to the thought of how each of us had the choice of hiding in life's storms or in bringing forth the song placed deeply within each of our souls. Just as fascinating was the thoughts that began to unfold as vignettes in my mind. Faces of those people who had brought a smile and love into my life in what seemed my darkest moments. In all of this I had to wonder if my face would be remembered by others when they recalled a kindness or stood in need.

This world is filled with a magic which is so wondrous when simply touched by a gentle heart………all of this amidst a storm lost in a single song. We each of us have a song…..may we all find the courage to sing it in the most stormy of times.

©Mike McConnery/Baden K9 Incorporated, 16/04/07

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