In the Fullness of Time !

There are two fruit trees adjacent to each other in our garden. One is a  berry, probably a Peanut Butter fruit, which is a favourite of the Barbets, and Magpie Robins. 

The other is the Sapota (Chiku) fruit,  which is the favourite of the  Squirrels and Parakeets. 

 

It is usual for the birds and squirrels to visit these trees in the morning and evening as a routine. They know when they are ripe to feed on. 

This behaviour is something I feel fascinated to observe. They come searching for food and choose the berry that is ready and pulpy. 

This Barbet chose the golden yellow fruit from among the other berries! 

The bunch above has turned golden yellow and Barbets might be waiting for it to be even more ripe. They know by habit when the fruit is tasty at its best. 

The daily visit to the site is a habit! I noticed the Barbet flying away after the visit without a close inspection of the berries unlike on another day, whose pictures are above!

The birds live on what the plants and trees offer them. They receive by exercising a choice! They wait to receive till the fruit is ready to their liking. 

For me, waiting has been a difficult experience. I suffer sometimes from a sense of hurry. 

There is an opportune time for all experiences in life. I like the phrase, 'fullness' of time used in the Bible in connection with the coming of Jesus of Nazareth to be born in a manger (Galatians 4:4). Jesus of Nazareth also had a sense of opportune time. When his mother approached Him at the wedding at Cana, saying, 'They have no wine', Jesus responded:'..My hour has not yet come'! Jesus however turned water into wine on that occasion, having sensed a need (John 2:1-10).

Sometimes the sense of hurry becomes prominent when one gets older! I am aware of this. I have a list of unfinished aspirations, particularly to consolidate by writing the experiences of the forty years while engaged in child development activities. When the progress in writing is slow, I feel impatient with myself. The inner wellness of rest and peace gets disturbed by wanting to finish. The finishing is important. But the journey towards the finish is also an experience in itself. 

The Barbets wait for the ripening of the fruit! It happens in the fullness of time the fruit needs, to ripen. 

That has come as a message to me during this week. Instead of chasing oneself and feel driven, I can find the pace to live and work pleasantly. If the daily rhythm of living is peaceful, the journey ahead is lighter and restful!

I am coming to the end of four months since I retired from my professional work. One significant experience which embraced me during his time of transition is an awareness of abundance of life experiences created through the net work of relationships. 

Rev Peter Miller, a presbyter of Church of Scotland, serving the St Mary's church at Chennai in 1987, arrived home one day to tell that he wanted us to keep one of his dogs, Dingido, a Lahsa apsu breed as he was returning to Scotland. It was the first time experience of  having a dog. For the next four years when we had her in our home, we got to realise how a canine can become a friend and communicate emotionally. Her way of welcoming visitors was by giving a lick on their foot. Those who were strangers to dogs, got comfortable watching the gentle temper of a dog. 

How did Rev Miller decide to choose us to be a foster family to his dog! Rev Miller said, 'you will find your life more complete with a dog'. He perceived it well. 

We have now Dulcie and Daffny, who continue the good beginning Dingido initiated us into. Dulcie seeks attention and Daffny gives us her attention.

Now that Anna and I have opportunities to turn our garden to be a hospitable place for the avian friends, we have discovered how they too fill a space within us, which needed expansion. 

Our instructors on  bird behaviours are Barbets, Magpie Robins, Sun birds, Kingfisher and Wood peckers.  

The Barbets in the above pictures bring some deeper truths of life to our awareness: They are fed and sheltered by the trees and plants around them! 

Do humans feed and shelter others enough!

The recent Israel-Palestine conflict does not suggest that!

The nature practices what humans fail to practice!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)