Wednesday, May 30, 2012


This is an encounter between a human and a wild bird

While watering my indoor plants, I heard a thud. Looking up I saw something drop from outside the window pane in the living room. I rushed outside to see what had happened, fearful that a bird had flown into the glass.Such was the case and It lay on the cement porch, immobile. I worried that the impact had broken its neck. I had grabbed a napkin on my way in case the bird was diseased or full of mites. Sitting on the wicker porch swing, I inspected the small bird. It looked like the many wrens that flew about and nested around my home. I carefully picked it up with the napkin, noting that its neck did not appear to be broken; nor was there any blood. Birds can quickly die with the loss of only a few drops of blood. 

This little wren seemed to have knocked itself unconscious by the impact of its crash into the window. I now wished I hadn't washed the windows recently, feeling a pang of guilt. Clear, clean windows look like open spaces to flying birds. I vowed to place screening on the windows to avoid future accidents. I held the little bird, now wrapped in the napkin, against my beating breast--perhaps my heartbeat might awaken its own. I rocked back and forth, singing lullabies as if it were a child and whispered prayers to God that His lovely creature might live. Time passed--how much I do not know. The bird and I were bound together as I gently stroked its soft brown feathers, willing it to come to life.
Suddenly, the bird lifted its head and gazed at me; unafraid, it seemed, as it looked into my very soul. I was mesmerized and grateful to see that it was alive, yet worried that it might be injured. I continued to rub its body as if guided by an entity larger than the bird or me. Something wonderful happened then. The wren stood up, straight and tall, and walked back and forth across my hands as if checking its state of health. It stretched its wings a time or two, glanced again at me and attempted to fly. It flew low at first, then gained strength and soared off toward the sky.
I sat awhile, that sultry day, and pondered this wondrous experience. I knew that I would never be quite the same, blessed by the miracle of summertime; granted a gift from God who let me bond for a little while with one of His creatures. It was an intimate, precious time that I will hold forever in my heart and mind.

Authors note; Taken from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (reworded)
The House wren, a plain brown bird with animated songs, is common in backyards across the western hemisphere. They love zipping through bushes and low-branched trees while hunting insects. They are small and compact, a soft brown in color, although the adult wren may be a darker brown.Their heads are flat, their beaks long and curved, and their wings short with a rather long tail. The house wrens are as bubbly and full of energy as their cheerful songs. These delightful creatures are happy living in neighborhoods, forests, city parks or farmyards and are a pleasure to all fortunate enough to observe and enjoy their pleasant demeanor and happy songs.
There are many varieties of wrens, including, The House Wrens, found all throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They differ from the Winter Wrens, who, unlike the House Wrens' long tail, have almost no tail . Both have a noticeable eyebrow, but the Winter Wrens' is much bolder in color. Bewicks Wrens and Carolina Wrens both have very bold eyebrows, however the first has a white breast while the other has a warm brown color.
Other wren species are noted by their habitats. The pale Marsh Wren and Sedge Wren prefer marshy grasses and reeds, while the paler gray-brown Rock Wren tends to blend in with the dry ambience of the west. A brown-throated sub-species of the House Wren tends to inhabit the mountainous regions of southeastern Arizona and has a buffy eyebrow with cinnamon-buff throat and chest.
House Wrens are found through the Americas, all the way to southern Argentina, where they tend to be warmer in color with different voices. Wherever one finds these adaptable, winsome birds, the sounds of their songs will always delight the listener.



14 comments:

  1. Micki,
    What a tender and beautiful story. You are so blessed to share such trust in God and for him to gift you for it. You wrote this beautifully and made me cry for I could see the entire scene clearly as you told it. God has been showing me wondrous things which I will share on my blog as they occur. I pray you and I will by used by Him to arouse a desire in others to seek His breathtaking love.

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  2. Linnea, That's my purpose too, to bring others to the joy you and I know, having God within us, not by shoving it down people's throats but by being an example they wish to follow. As the scriptures say--"don't bury your lantern under a bush." Yet I am amzed at so many who are close to God and are speaking out. I believe the prayers of the faithful can overcome the evil that walks the earth. How wonderful we can be part of it.

    Micki

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  3. What a beautiful story and so well-written. It's those small gifts that give us hope and keep moving us along. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Hi Micki,
    This is a beautiful story. My office is in my basement and the windows to my office are ground level and small in height. But they are large enough for the neighborhood's cats on my street to come and sit on the inside of the window sills and watch me work early in the morning.
    My husband tends our backyard, thank God, and loves to watch the birds. So he has built a bird's house right before our patio, which is also glassed in. There is also a bird's house in our nut tree. It is amazing to watch the birds come and go.
    More than that it is amazing when one of those little creatures whether, birds, cats, or dogs trust you enough to let you get close to them.
    That was a beautiful gift from God and you will never forget it.
    Thanks for sharing it.
    Ciao,
    Patricia

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  5. Micki, that was so beautiful and I was so there with you--praying right along with you! You are not only a gifted writer but also a gifted storyteller. There's a difference between the two and you are so blessed to be both!

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  6. Hello Micki,

    Thank you for such a moving story that took my breathe away and tears to my eyes from sheer joy. Your story proves that all of God's creatures, human and wild can share this heavenly place on earth if only we share the love of God in our hearts.

    You have also taught a valuable lesson for all of us to learn. You are an amazing writer and true believer in all you do.

    Thank you for sharing and showing us alll the blessings of the Lord.

    Rosemary "Mamie" Adkins

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  7. Peggy, Pat, Sandra H and Rosemary.
    Thank you so much for your kind comments. I don't know what I did to find such wonderful friends as all of you.

    Pat, I haven't seen you around lately.. Miss you.

    Love to all of you,

    Micki

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  8. Dear Micki, God has used his animals many times to show me His unwavering love. He has told me many times to "Look for Me in the details." It is all part of my next book, on trusting Him. He is everywhere, reminding us that just as you had authority over that bird because Jesus gave the world and all that is in it back to mankind, He alone is God and tenderly holds you and I in the palm of His hand, stroking us with His tender mercies until we accept His love and healing so we can once again soar in the wind! Beautiful story, you have blessed me today! Love, Deirdre

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  9. Ah Micki..your shared experieces always touch me deeply. sometimes in my belly-laughter spot yet always in the most soulful part of my heart and mind. Your encounter with this little wren evoked my own memories of nature encounters and reminded me that such moments cannot be planned, only treasured. Thank you, dear friend.

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  10. Thank you Deirdre and Dody for your kind comments. Your next book should be awesome, Deirdre and Dody, I expect you to be churning up a new book now too!!

    Love you both,

    Micki

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  11. Thank you Deirdre and Dody for your kind comments. Your next book should be awesome, Deirdre and Dody, I expect you to be churning up a new book now too!!

    Love you both,

    Micki

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  12. Micki, I have been behind lately in my readings and I am sorry I did not read this posting earlier. It brought tears of joy to my eyes! I had a similar experience when my husband and I lived in Florida but not to the loving extent as yours. We were sitting on the back porch when atiny bird fell from its nest. I quickly rushed to see if it was still alive. Apparently this was its first flight from home! I gently and carefully lifted it onto the top of our arbor. We watched it for some time wobbling back and forth and then suddenly its wings stretched outward and it vanished across the sky. God shows us His miracles every day!

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  13. Sharla,
    I'm so pleased to have you visit my blog--and enjoy my story of the tiny wren. Yes, God has strange ways of showing His presence, but if we pay attention He is always among us.Thank you for a lovely comment.

    Micki

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