I positioned myself facing the cable lines in our garden, hearing the bird calls of a Tailor bird in the rear garden of our cottage. Having been familiar with the flight stations that Tailor birds would touch during their morning flight movements, I waited for its arrival.
The daylight was subdued and visibility was not good enough. When the Tailor bird arrived on the cable it turned in all directions and began its tuneful bird calls, some short and some long! Its jittery body stayed still with the tail turning upward with every bird call.
Its next halt was at the far end of the garden, hidden behind the foliage of a tall tree, still singing lustily.
I wondered for a moment! Where does its song come from! It has an awakening message in its calls. It sings to make others hear!
It was after a while I was able to track a Tailor bird, although the day break light was not bright enough to capture the delicate hue of colours on its feathers.
A bird of about 12 centimetres in length, has a laryngeal function that is rich enough to call anyone to attention to listen! Its voice and tuneful singing is its gift to those who care to listen !
I pause!
What can be my gift to others!
Listening to the songs of others!
Listening is to receive !
How much I hear and receive those who speak to me !
Listening is for appreciation and silence becomes the acknowledgement to the one speaking, that what he speaks is solemn or sacred !
A person is embodied in what he or she speaks and listening without generating thoughts to respond, the heart receives the person.
Jesus of Nazareth, seeing Nathaniel coming to Him said: 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile'(John 1:47) !
Seeing or hearing someone is to sense the goodness abiding in him or her!
The Tailorbird sings tunefully and heartily, because it regards its listeners worthy of a blessing!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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