Interrelatedness

Monet-like quality in the Koi pond

The perfect autumn afternoon beckoned, and the boys were reluctant to come. Their dad’s office party was happening at their home, and they were curious to see who would be coming, and what might be happening.

That party was precisely the reason we were leaving, so the grown-ups could have their grown-up party.

We picked up Les on our way to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Glen Ellyn. She instantly and cheerfully improved the ratio to one-to-one, one boy to one adult.

The grandsons are city boys, so I look for opportunities to introduce them to nature and to the creatures who live in the forests and fields.

We saw animals that wouldn’t be released due to injuries that would prevent their successful hunting – golden eagles, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons, barn owls, great-horned owls, a bobcat, raccoons, and foxes –in large circular cages carefully furnished with various-sized branches and box-like structures for dens.

Red-tail hawk on an outing

The boys were keenly interested in the young woman volunteer sporting a magnificent red-tail hawk on her gloved arm. She answered their questions with skill and respect for the wild bird on her glove.

Why this treasure in the middle of suburbia? Someone had the vision to save the forests – at least parts of them. What a gift these green expanses are to us, our children and grandchildren.

I am gleaning from that afternoon that everything fits together as ideas in one universal Mind. Not as wounded, recovering, or impaired animals, but each one a spiritual idea already complete in Mind.

There were glimpses of everything related – the foresight for establishing Forest Preserves, the dedication to create and fund the Center, the people who staff it, volunteers who serve, public who come to learn; a sense of peace, order, and beauty, hope and caring.

These are spiritual qualities, natural to all mankind. We had our own party, our celebration of creatures special and wonderful.