Embracing Wonder

Twilight Fright – Juvenile Bald Eagle Flying Over Startles Flock into the Air

Last week we took a trip to central Nebraska to witness one of nature’s wonders—the spring migration of the sandhill cranes. Sandhill cranes migrate south to spend winters in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Every year between late February and mid-April thousands (more than 205,000 at the peak of the migration this year) of the cranes stop over in central Nebraska to recover from the first half of their journey north and to eat and put on weight to prepare for the remainder of their journey north to Alaska and even as far as Siberia.

Cranes in corn field

During the day, the sandhill cranes can be found feeding in cornfields near the river. Their calls can be heard for miles around and you can look up at the sky and see groups of cranes swirling and riding the air currents day in and day out. At night the 3-4 foot tall birds (with a wingspan of 6 feet) gather on islands and sandbars in the Platte River. The Platte, over most of its length, is a muddy, broad, shallow, meandering stream with a swampy bottom and many islands—a braided stream—perfect nighttime habitat to protect migrating cranes from predators.

Watching these magnificent birds and listening to the sound of their calls fill the air was an experience of such wonder and joy!

“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it is over, I don’t want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don’t want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.

I don’t want to end up simply having visited this world.”
― Mary Oliver

It is impossible to imagine the sight and sounds of thousands of birds flying and swooping all at once. How do they manage not to collide with one another? What inner compass helps them navigate their migration path?

Embracing Wonder

The migration of the sandhill cranes is just one of nature’s countless wonders. Listening to them and seeing them flocking and flying so gracefully overhead is a way to embrace the grace of the beauty of life. The experience made me want to whoop for joy, my face wreathed in smiles, eyes lit with wonder.

When was the last time you actively decided to make time for embracing wonder? There are ordinary miracles that surround us every day. Take some time out to notice.

May you walk in beauty.