Everything sublime is as difficult as it is rare. Baruch Spinoza

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Flight of White

As I went about my business turning out horses this morning I heard what sounded like geese, but didn't sound exactly like geese. When I stepped outside to view what I thought would be Canadian geese flying in their customary vee over my barn I was amazed and delighted to see hundreds of swan heading northwest, in the familiar vee pattern. Huge, brilliant white birds with enormous downy wings.

greenpack.org

I have never witnessed swan migration before. So I wonder, did they veer off their usual course? Are they more plentiful in the wild? After all the years of watching bird migration this the first time for the swan.

I saw a wonder of the world today. Hundreds of them going somewhere. It gave me hope. It gave me awe. It made realize I must be more thoughtful in my decisions as a human on this planet I share with something as glorious as this. We need to see the glorious. Without an appreciation of magnificence and the concern which comes with it, the lowly, mundane and ugly in our world do not stand a chance. 

I have been momentarily humbled in my meagerness. This was absolutely a moment. A real moment.

15 comments:

Teri said...

Aren't they beautiful!? I saw many in WI last fall as they were heading south. I told my DH they sound like a goose with a sore throat.

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

Swans are soooo beautiful! I just can't imagine seeing a whole flock of them! Wouldn't it be wonderful if they were making a comeback? I did see some in Massachusetts, in the wild, before I left.

Yes, there is hope in that vision...

Ganeida said...

I love when God gives me moments like that! They last me a long, long time. We get black swans [don't have white ones]in their hundreds each year breeding around the bay. We've even done swan rescues. For such big birds they are incredibly light!

Here immature sea hawks honk like geese. Gave me a real shock forst time I heard it because we don't get geese at all! lol.

Jill said...

What a special treat to see something like that! Just beautiful.

Judy said...

Amazing....I can not imagine what a site that was. The days are filled with wonders, when we truly open our eyes and hearts that is when we can receive them.

Deb said...

What a gift. Imagine, you might have missed it, but you heard and chose to look and there they were. Just for you today. As I was reading I imagined it in my mind and I too was delighted. I was also moved to read that this 'moment' was given to Sandra who has been through so much these last few months.

Lorac said...

That sounds so wonderful! I can understand the moment. And the gratitude!

Memories Of Mine said...

What am amazing site to witness. Swans are majestic animals.

Sandra said...

Hi All. It was amazing. There were hundreds of them coming 2 -3 separate vee formations, filling the sky. Then there were small flocks of the stragglers that followed. I have no idea why, since this has never happened before, but it was a gift that left me amazed all day.

rebecca said...

be still my heart!!!your blog is beautiful!!

i too am gathering "hope" for our dear allegra. please hop over to my blog where i have fashioned a virtual get well card for her!!! i hope you join in leaving her a love note.

warmly,
rebecca

Sandra said...

rebecca, I would love to leave her a note, but clicking on your name doesn't bring me to your blog.

Unknown said...

how incredible.
I would have cried. I just know it.
We have trumpeter swans at the lake, their population being cared for by a local volunteer group, and when I went for a winter get out of the house drive, they just filled me with such peace.

I'm glad that you were able to witness this moment.
I'm glad you were able to see.

Sandra said...

deb, it was something. I looked up what type of swan migrates through MN and it is the Tundra Swan.

Elizabeth said...

How incredible. Thank you for sharing this moment with us. While I'm sure it's not nearly the same as experiencing it literally, your words are a necessary reminder. And swans make me think of E.B. White and the book The Trumpeter Swan that I loved so much as a child.

Sandra said...

Yes, incredible. I wonder if I will ever see this again.