This bird above a Straw necked Ibis, an Australian native bird is different from the white Ibis we come across in India. It derives its name from the straw like neck feathers it has. It is also a well groomed bird, which lives in dry and wet land and flies distances to find its food and breeding site.
The bird below, a Torresian Imperial Pigeon, a white pigeon with greyish black tail, silver tipped bills and white body is another bird known for its exquisite habits and bird behaviour. In this species, there are Yellowish Imperial pigeon and Pied Imperial pigeon. These pigeons are mainly seen in the wooded areas.
I was seeing both these birds for the first time.
I remember the surprise and excitement when I spotted them, not knowing anything about their species and habitat.
I am not a person with any unusual sense of curiosity. However, birding has aroused within me a sense of the spectacular sights one can find in the avian world.
The human life and bird life have something in common. Humans inhabit their dwelling places built by their hands in modern times. The birds also live in their nests during the breeding season and live rest of the time in trees and land, which they do not own. They live free and flourish without encumbrances.
The birds are migrants and travellers. They live feeding on what they receive. They fend for themselves each day. It is not common for birds to go hungry or feel the agony of starvation.
The Ibis above lives on insects from the ground and the pigeon on fruits from trees.
The birds live with freedom unlike the stressful existence of humans due to the clutter and burden they create for themselves.
One disturbing thought I come across among young people is the craving for wealth creation! To have more seems to a normal instinct.
However, I wonder if it is a self harming behaviour.
Mr Ratan Tata in a confession recently said, 'I had no friends when I needed them'! Among the industrialists, he stands out as one with a large heart and outstanding integrity. Even he suffered without friends when he needed them.
I wonder whether we are pursuing after wealth only to suffer a void at the end of a life long journey of acquisition!
I wish, the wealth of building friendship would take precedence over going after wealth that generates greed.
In the parable Jesus of Nazareth, the rich man thought of building new barns when he had an abundant yield from his field at the time of harvest. He did not think of sharing the excess grain with others who needed them (Luke 12:18 ).
The pursuit of wealth creation and greedy instinct are interlinked.
I wonder whether we can reduce our material needs so that we do not need so much more resources to live well!
The Ibis and Pigeon in the above photos remind me that they live well. They have no veterinary doctors to care for them. They live well and give us a resonant message, the Heavenly Father provides !
Anna and I live in our seventh decade of life! I find that friendships and memories of them have become a significant source of our wellness. If 'it is in giving we receive', then increase the giving is a way of living!
I wish I can add the dimension of forgiving as another attitude to life and living!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
Good thoughts and true. May I submit that there are three other things that disrupt friendship more powerfully than money.
ReplyDelete1) the politics of power - as we can see friendships tumble on the national landscape
2) process pre-occupation that ignores the value of human resource - in our jurisprudence
3) propriety - that invites punitive behaviour to overwhelm friendships - in service-sector organisations.