Friday, February 17, 2012

As Birds Flying...


A coughing spell caused me to leave church early not to disrupt the Sunday service. I went out to the car and sat by an old tree in the parking lot. Elliot was in church and so I was content to be in the stillness processing my seeming condition. If I am made in the image and likeness of God, then why I am not completely well? Obviously there was more inner work to do.

I closed my eyes to pray in gratitude that I was still as God created me no matter what my mortal mind was telling me. Afterwards, I looked up at the side of the church. My attention was drawn to an open window on the second floor.

How strange that I had never noticed it before. Even more strange, I thought an owl was perched on the windowsill.

An owl? I looked again. Although it was not real, fake feathers ruffled in the breeze to ward off unwanted visitors.

I smiled... owl represents wisdom. It seemed like a reminder for me to be more vigilant for my own negative thoughts that trespass into my mind. The idea was to keep a higher watch for Truth, to think God's thoughts and not my own.

Elliot soon came out to check on me. We sat in the car and he read the first page of our weekly Bible lesson. Suddenly a flock of white birds appeared, flying in formation above the church. Doves circled the church twice against a blue sky. If only I had my camera, but the memory was a sacred one. I could feel the presence of God's Love in that moment.

To my delight, birds continued to be angelic messengers for me. On Monday when I stopped by the Christian Science Reading Room to get my monthly Bible lesson, for some reason I found myself sitting on the floor going through an old box of pamphlets. I laughed when I came across one entitled, "As birds flying," an article published in a Christian Science Journal in the 50's. I was thankful for being guided.

Curious, I looked inside.

"Through Christian Science a spiritual realm of ideas is revealed when thought soars joyous, fearless, and free, expressing or reflecting the dominion, the power, and the presence of divine Love, or Principle.

Mark Baker Eddy wrote in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures", under the subheading "Soaring aspirations" (pp. 511,512) "The fowls which fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven, correspond to aspirations soaring beyond and above corporeality to the understanding of the incorporeal and divine principle, Love."

The next day I received another surprise in the mail. My friend Debra gifted me with a beautiful handmade porcelain dove necklace and earrings she had bought on a trip to Nova Scotia. The emblem reminded her of the Holy Spirit. I got goosebumps reading the craftsman's card on birds:

"Birds play a prominent role in Celtic legend. As symbols of freedom and transcendence, they represent the human soul in flight, liberated from earthly ties, able to soar in spiritual communication with the heavens. Returning to earth, they bring messages of prophecy and guidance, aiding mortals on their spiritual and earthly sojourns. As spirits of the air, they provide a link between the soul and the spiritual forces of heaven."

I love the birds. If you would like to explore more on their symbolism, you may want to read Angel Messages, The Oracles of the Birds by Claire Nahmad.

Enjoy your day with the Angels and let your thoughts soar above materiality into that celestial realm of divine Love.

Blessings,

Karen