Irish Proverb, Birds, and Belonging

Today, I went to Starbucks and got my Decaf Americano. Afterwards, I sat in my car and looked up at a tree in front of me and there were many birds (American Robins to be exact) in this one tree. They were plump with fluffy feathers. I was struck with the thought that they formed a little community sticking together, supporting each other in the bitter Indiana cold. I also noticed a nest in that tree and thought about how they were finding shelter together and it made me smile.

It reminded me of an Irish Proverb that I have always loved: “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” I listened to an audio excerpt today about this proverb with beautiful music and deeper insights into what it means. I will attach the link below (and also a song by Jars of Clay) for you all and highly recommend that you have a listen. The Irish have so much to teach us about living a full life.

There is something breathtakingly wonderful about the connection that we all have with one another as humans. This connection is not always apparent, especially in our society where we compare ourselves to one another on social media. And, the divisive political climate also highlights our differences to the extreme. But, the bottom line is that we are all human- with our own unique sorrows and joys.

When I remember that we are connected, I feel more alive and less alone. There have been many people whose shelter I have lived in for five minutes, a few months, years, and/or for my whole life depending on my relationship with them. I am somewhat of a free spirit and I can relate to those birds I saw today. They would flutter around and then pop back in that tree. We all need a place of belonging.

Continuing on with the theme of birds, one of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver, sadly recently passed away. She had such a keen way of seeing the world in all its beauty and rawness and capturing it in words. So, I will end with her poignant words from her poem called “Wild Geese:”

“Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things.”

You are important. You belong. It’s in the shelter of each other that we live. Blessings, Shelley