Flight of the Sparrow

by Amy Belding Brown

Slowly, Mary discovers in idleness a strange expansion of time and a growing awareness of the natural world. She begins to watch the flight of sparrows through the winter air and the dance of red squirrels in the trees. She notes the changes in clouds, the slant of sunlight as it falls on snow, the tight red buds of winter trees. All these things she has seen before, but only as background to her life’s duties.

She thinks of the many Indians sold into slavery and of those confined in Natick, without the freedom to roam through the wilderness that was once theirs. They are a dying nation, their towns burned, their lands appropriated, their very bodies starved and crushed and sold. All in the name of God.

venturing away from accepted wisdom was the very path by which she found herself.

When a book moved me or made me think in a new way, I found myself wanting to have that impact on others.

These are the words of the author, when asked why she got into writing. I love this.