The Delights Outside the Window

The world outside our windows is quite busy these days, don’t you think? Birds are frolicking; singing the songs of domestic creativity as nests seem to materialize in a nanosecond. Nestled in my front door wreath, the bush just outside my garage, and yes, even inside my garage, birds have been busy playing house.

Daffodils and tulips command the color emerging from the sleepy soil of winter. Trees are budding and grass is growing. The airs of Spring are thawing our resolute hearts; we’ve all had to be quite steadfast this past year. Staying home, wearing masks, and joining together in the common quest to deal with a pandemic have yielded blinders of determination we’ve all been called to.

But now, the windows are opening. As a nurse with the medical volunteer corps here in Ohio, I’ve witnessed thousands Covid-19 vaccinations, and administered many. I’ve also been fully vaccinated myself which means I’ve experienced both sides of hope. However, I’m digressing.

Back to the world outside my window. Lately, there’s been a white squirrel romping around the neighborhood. Usually, it’s out of the corner of my eye I see him or her. I run to grab my phone so I can capture a photo of our Springtime neighbor, but I seem to be just a bit too late. The squirrel is not one to yield to human indulgence. I’ve learned it’s better just to remain still in observance.

Coming upon a white squirrel is not ordinary. In the world of nature, the sprint of such a standout breeds vulnerability. The atypical squirrel’s chances in nature’s survival chain is tenuous; which makes its presence in my back yard even more extra ordinary.

The white squirrel has taught me two things. First, pay attention. I can be quite limited by the stuff of my mind, the tasks on my list, or the self-serving view which defines my world perspective. Emerging Spring calls us to look beyond our figurative windows. The not-so-ordinary pleasures await, even though they may be fleeting.

Second, one year ago, we were all hijacked by a pandemic of all things. We became engulfed in lockdown, daily briefings by Dr. Amy Acton, and the letting go of communal life. Survival mode. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year, but the rhythm of the seasons is resetting. The white squirrel invites openness, healing, and enchantment.

I’m so appreciative of the lessons of the world outside our windows. I hope some version of the white squirrel finds you in these days of emerging life. Be prepared to do nothing else but just watch and be delighted.