The Heron of Hope

 

My brother tells of a heron, hunting squirrels around his barn. He sees the big bird in his mind’s eye as he describes this odd occurrence to me at a family gathering.

“JoDee, there’s a heron hanging around our barn. It’s this tall I tell you.” He motions with his hand.

I wonder whether he thinks this big bird is a sign; A messenger of hope sent from God to encourage them in their time of grief.

You see, pain swims in their home, due to the recent death of my sister-in-law’s father. Piranhas of the soul—grief and despair—lurk in the waters.

“Herons hunt fish,” my brother explains, “and also squirrels. I think this bird comes from a nearby marsh.”

A marsh in the upper desert? I think. I don’t want to doubt his reasoning but his story seems as odd as a visit from this tall bird in the country valley where my brother and sister-in-law live. In fact, the only water sources around are a couple of ponds. I remember seeing them as a kid.

I don’t speak the obvious, why is this bird hanging around your barn? Yet I come home and look up herons online and find some interesting information. Herons are extremely protective of their nests and will attack intruders: http://bible.cc/leviticus/11-19.htm

Photo Credit: Margaret Scaglione

http://www.pics4learning.com/details.php?img=grtblu.jpg

Herons are also known to have angry flair ups, which, interestingly, is Step 3 of the grief process. http://www.recover-from-grief.com/7-stages-of-grief.html

I go online to discover Christine Grote’s post; The Blue Heron pays a visit. Christine knows about processing grief. In fact, in her memoir, Dancing in Heaven, Christine shares her family’s story about her younger sister Annie:

“Dancing in Heaven is an inspirational story about Annie s life, death, and her significance in the lives of those of us who loved her and others who were touched by her. This memoir provides a window into my family’ s life with a severely disabled member. But more importantly, Dancing in Heaven is a testimony to the basic intrinsic value of human life.”

I’ve learned to listen to people like Christine who have passed through the stages of grief. I respect the feathers of hope they pass on to the rest of us that encounter our own piranhas of the soul.

Now, I too, find myself believing that the appearance of these herons is a sign.

I’m linking up with L.L. Barkat’s…

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