First light—wind rises with the sun; gulls can’t wait to surrender themselves to invisible currents above the bay.

Or are they invisible only to our impaired senses? Perhaps to birds, air currents glow with ultra-violet light, delineating direction and speed. Perhaps the air hums to music sung by madronas on the bluff. Perhaps the air vibrates with scents, memories of snow carried down from Canada. Perhaps currents swirl and dance in colors unknown to us.

And what if gulls are not surrendering to the whim of the wind, but instead are highly skilled acrobatic fliers? Perhaps each barb of a gulls’ feather can read the wind with more accuracy than all our meteorological measurings. Perhaps gulls search the wind for news of breakfast arriving on the tide. Perhaps they fly into the growing breeze to build strength and endurance. What good is a bird who is afraid of the air?

What good am I, afraid to let my heart out of my house?

What good am I, afraid to set loose my creations on the morning updrafts? What good am I, afraid to splay my soul, expose it to the sky for gulls to laugh at? I do not fling myself into the stream of life. I do not race to greet each dawn with zeal for physical challenges. I do not engage my flock—I do not even have a flock.

I remain inside—furled, contracted, concealed—watching gulls outside my windows, seeing the sunrise on their bellies, seeing my soul rise on their wings. Perhaps it is I who is less evolved. Something I will meditate upon.

CONTEMPLATIONS

• What unseen currents are at work in your life?
• Are there signs you need to be deciphering?
• What are you afraid of?
• Are you in resistance to anything?
• What new challenges can you vow to take on in this new year?

DOWNLOADABLE AFFIRMATION CARD

click image to enlarge, right click to save and print

Speaking of wind, I’m thrilled to be able to say that I’m walking my talk–this blog is 130% wind-powered! Click here to learn how to get your own green hosting.