"Nature connection" by Tara on August 22, 2006, 9:12 pm, in category General
Isn't it easy in our busy, hustle bustle city lives to become so disconnected from nature and the restorative energy that it can give us. I have always been a nature/animal or some might say "tree hugger" person. I feel very connected when I am taking a walk in a wooded area or canoeing along a lake or river. It is kind of like my church of choice. Even though I seek out and enjoy this I oftentimes get so involved in day to day tasks that I have to be reminded to get back to what feeds me.
I had one of these so called experiences about a week ago. A good friend of mine who lives on the edge of town near an area that is quickly encroaching on nature and an area that has long been woods and fields but is now buildings and construction. She was out jogging and came across a very large bird sitting on a rock. Upon careful examination, she realized that this bird was probably an owl or a hawk, but she wasn't sure. The first encounter did not seem unusual but when this mighty bird was there the second day my friend became concerned. Knowing that I love animals she gave me a call to get my read on the situation. Becasue I was curious and I never turn down an animal encounter, I came out to see what she had found. Sure enough it was a red-tailed hawk. We examined it the best that we could and could not see any injury or anything of the sort. The bird seemed kind of tired and not afraid of us in the least.
We made some calls to authorities that would maybe have some idea of why this bird was so close to people and homes and why it was not moving or displaying typical hawk behavior. We were told to try and leave food for it to see if it would eat. We did and yes it did eat but still was not behaving or living like it would be expected to.
Because it didn't act like a wild animal I was tempted and behaved in a way that if I could go back and change it would. I got as close as I could, pushed the limit and tried to have as much of an encounter with this amazing animal that I could.
In hindsight, I was out of line. I could have upset the animal, I could have been badly hurt and I went against the laws of nature. What is the lesson for me in all of this. Nature just supplied me with an amazing example of boundaries. Boundaries serve us in supplying us with the tools and ability to set limits with others in our lives. If someone is intrusive, we need to act accordingly and set limits with them. If someone is evasive we need to speak up and ask for what we need. Because this animal did not act typically (setting boundaries with aggressive actions) I took advantage of this poor animal. Thankfully the hawk did not get hurt, I did not get hurt but was left with a remarkable lesson from nature itself on a very basic principle we can rely on in our lives to take control and be in charge of our destiny.
Thank you mother nature for yet another remarkable day in the classroom.
