Recently, I watched as a hawk and a vulture swirled effortlessly and gracefully hundreds of feet upward into the sky, eventually finding that air current off ramp and flying off to the southwest. The deep, narrow Blue Ridge valley before my house, between the two, tree covered ridges, often provides the changing temperatures and air currents that make for great updrafts. Watching birds rise and circle with ease is a common treat (it’s better than TV!), but seeing two different species, a red tailed hawk and turkey vulture flying in opposite directions was something new and special. They were perhaps a rotation or two from each other, their movements so subtle – a slight tip of the wing here, a tail feather adjustment there. As I watched in wonder, I couldn’t help but think of the many life lessons to be found in this simple act of nature.

So often, and thankfully more in the past, I find myself fighting the currents. Working hard, getting things done, making things happen, but all at great energetic and emotional expense -some of which has taken years to manifest. Not working with the currents but battling on against them in stubborn, willful, I will get it done mode.  Much did get done too, but more and more my will to fight and battle has evaporated and the desire to accomplish, with ease, has taken it’s place. It’s counter to our cultural norms, and counter to a life long pattern.  I still catch myself chiding myself for laziness at times – “What are you waiting for..go…make..it..happen!”  No, that feels less palatable these days. Those moments of flow and ease are so much better. I want more of that.

Oh to be the hawk or the vulture who uses what is out there, doesn’t fight it. To climb hundreds of feet, with nary a flap of the wing. To use those available air currents and accomplish great deeds with little effort but to just be aware and use what is there, to not fight what is and who is.  To be in the same space with others, two different species, flying opposite directions yet with common purpose and final end destination. There is no disagreement, no challenging, no posturing, no “this is my thermal and I am a hawk and you can’t be in my space too”! Both can use the thermal and rise, together, but apart.  Here’s to being like hawk and vulture:  riding the thermals in life and embracing the effortlessness of catching the rising currents, together.

The panorama from my window has been all shades of grey lately. Thinking this morning of the ever changing art exhibit that graces my view, which today is just grey, but more often is much more. In a one room house with very little wall space and two walls of windows, the sky is my art on the wall and I am graced and inspired daily by the ever changing display. Sometimes subtle, often dramatic: a changing palette of colors and texture. This is a reward of living this homestead life. I am grateful….and looking forward to seeing the sun.