I was working on a little project in my shop the other day when I heard a chittering sound and looked and saw two swallows fly in through the open door, buzz around a couple times, and then out the door again at about 40 mph.
I love to watch the acrobatic aerial skills of swallows, and my heart fills with joy every spring when they return from wherever they go in the winter. Sometimes when they see me out in the yard or garden they seem to buzz me as if trying to see how close they can come without parting my hair – almost as if they want to play with me.
This summer, I’ve been leaving the small back door to my shop open. Last year I sold the accumulation of my most valuable tools that I no longer use, so I’m not concerned about theft any more.
When the pair of swallows flew back in the shop after a few minutes for an encore performance, apparently with no fear of my presence, and then again a few minutes later, I finally saw that they had built a nest in the rafters.
It’s hard to describe the joy that their antics give to me. I guess the French would call it the “joie de vivre”.
Later I got thinking about the occasional times of overflowing joy that I’ve found just from witnessing the wonders of creation. That also brought back a memory of a time in my teens when I was canoeing on a lake in the Adirondacks during spring break. The ice was going out, so about half the lake was open enough to put the canoe in. The remaining ice was rotten and had been blown over to the north side of the lake. I was paddling along the edge of the ice when I saw an otter push up through a hole in the ice. He had a fish in his mouth. He laid on his back while enjoying his meal.
That early in the year, there was no one else on the lake, and I felt like I was seeing something very special. There was that joy again, along with a good dose of fascination. But then I was treated to an escalation of that joy – the snow had melted on the north bank, and it was a little muddy in one spot. The otters had taken the opportunity to have some fun. A whole family was playing a game of tag, chasing each other up the bank, then sliding down to plop back in the water, round and round over and over again. I tried not to laugh out loud, because they didn’t seem aware of my presence.
Ever since that day, otters have been my favorites in the animal kingdom.
One way to experience joy is to listen to Julie Andrews sing “Some of my Favorite Things”. Or just read the lyrics:
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
[Verse 2]
Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
[Verse 3]
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
[Chorus]
When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad
That song written by Rogers and Hammerstein for the “Sound of Music” epitomizes what I’m trying to say. Swallows and otters are two of my favorite things.
The opening scene in “The Sound of Music” has got to be one of the greatest movie openings ever filmed. It stirs you right down in your soul and lifts up your spirit.
Thanks, Al! So well written.
"....let your mind dwell on these things"....