A Fluttering Reminder..

Waking up earlier than usual this morning and feeling more like myself… I decided to enjoy my morning coffee outside.

Basking in the quiet peacefulness only mornings can provide, I welcome a new day as I become reacquainted with my own backyard. Admiring the rapid growth of my winter-dormant perennial flowers, I smile in delight as I visualize their future splendor. The air is fragrant with the sweet scent of honeysuckle and my little ‘winged’ friends are busy at my feeders.

A glance over at the bluebird houses catches a returning Tree Swallow swooping down for entry…as the other holds occupancy of a House Wren and family. With thoughts of adding a third to this backyard-birding-neighborhood in the hopes of attracting its meant-for occupant, my thoughts are interrupted with a distinct humming sound to my left.

Turning around slowly, I can see a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird hovering over the hummingbird feeder. Wings which rotate rapidly enable him to ‘fly’ in place, while dipping his long slender beak in the ‘flower-like’ opening for a syrupy sweet drink of nectar. Satisfying his fast-depleting energy requirements, he buzzes away…but I know he’ll be back again.

I smile at the beauty of this fluttering ‘jewel’ as Hummingbirds hold a special place in my heart. It is not just the unequivocal uniqueness of this tiny bird which deem it so remarkable, but my own cherished personal encounter I’ve experienced long ago…

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Upon entering my garage one summer afternoon, my attention was caught by the distinct hum of fluttering wings. A tiny hummingbird, hovering near the high ceiling, had gotten trapped inside by a probable deceiving lure. Instinct driven, he continued to fly ‘up’ into the roof of the building seeking escape of an environment he unwittingly entered, but never dropping low enough to go out the way he came. In the belief that the color red is the drawing color for Hummingbirds, I deduced that he was drawn inside by the red emergency pull of the garage door opener.

Unable to do anything but watch from this distance, my heart broke at his plight. In desperation to help, I attempted to ‘light’ an alternate exit for him by surrounding an open window with anything red I could find. From red fabric to empty Coke boxes, I outlined an escape path. That being all I could possibly do, I could only hope he would find his way.

As I prepared dinner I would steal opportunities to check in on this little creature for I knew he would be tiring soon. Hummingbirds need continual energy to fuel their rapidly fluttering wings and this little guy had to be wearing thin. My every peek into the garage, however, showed the same tiring attempts…hovering still near the peak of the roof …no progress at all being made. Still unable to physically reach him, I knew his time had to be almost up. Returning into the house, I resigned myself to his demise…feeling helpless and sad at his unfortunate fate.

By the close of dinner I decided to have one last look as dusk was fast approaching. Upon entering the garage I looked up …but my little hummingbird was no longer there. Had he made it out of there after all? Leaving nothing to chance I walked the perimeter of the garage scouring the floor…moving everything carefully along the way.

Then I heard it.

The faintest flutter of exhausted wings. Like a car engine struggling to start but seizing with every attempt. Caught between the wall and a board, he lay on the floor.. visibly spent but still alive. I gingerly scooped him up into the cup of my hand and hastily moved him outside.

Quickly removing the feeder from the tree, I held him close to it for a drink. Perched on my thumb, he drank readily…pausing only in small intervals to catch his breath. This tiniest of creatures, delicate and fragile in stature, was the most amazing thing I had ever seen.

Overcome with awe and excitement, exclamation hung in my throat…silenced only by my conscious will. Daring not to utter a sounding breath for fear of stressing him further, I silently watched him in the evening’s dusky twilight. He drank for a few long minutes…a lengthy time to me but not long enough for me. I wanted this desired but unique outcome to linger just a little longer…

After recharging himself sufficiently he finally took flight, flying off into a young maple. Lighting on a limb, he paused once more…allowing me one final look at him before flying off into his much fought for freedom..

Reflecting on this experience, I’m reminded that even in the most despairing of times, there is always somebody watching..aware of our plight …eager to lend a ‘hand’. Help and comfort do lie waiting, even if we believe we are going unnoticed. Our lives are observed, … our behavior is monitored, …or our presence is missed …and noted by others. Paths are crossed fatefully,…unknowingly,…at our most needed moment in time.

For wherever help and comfort comes from or how it arrives doesn’t really matter… only that it is given and accepted.

So now I’ll take the time to thank you all, my friends, for your expressions of concern for me as of late…for all of the ‘helping hands’ that were so readily given were appreciated, needed, and warmly embraced.

A lesson of life,… for me, learned twice,… in both giving and receiving.

For the acknowledged realization that a loving hand is only a reach away,

…is now fully comprehended …and reminded to me..

..in the ‘hum’ of fluttering wings.

Until next time…Liz