For the Birds

I have a bunch of plants on my back porch that grow like crazy. They are hard to manage, vine-like entities that, if left untended, take over everything. When they first started growing, I stressed about them endlessly. I trimmed, cut, pruned, dug up, and whatever else I could think of to keep them at bay – but they just kept coming back.

This year, however, I have changed my approach. Instead of trying to force my will on the plants, I have been working with them. I let them grow, but keep them away from our gutters, roof, and windows. I have let them spread out and take over, but have cooperated with them so that the things that are important to me are not damaged.

I’ve noticed a few interesting things since making this subtle change. The first is my attitude. Instead of stressing out and worrying and fighting, I’m calm. Where I used to see an enemy, something to be competed with, I now see a wonderful addition to our yard that just needs some help making sure it keeps within certain boundaries.

Then there are the birds.

As my sons and I sat on the porch last weekend, enjoying the crisp May-morning air, three baby finches, just learning to fly, dropped from the vines and rested a foot or two from where we sat. We were silent as we watched them struggle to remain air-born and then find a place to perch. As we watched, the baby birds flew, pecked, chirped and explored among the vines I had previously struggled to remove.

The last few mornings we have been given the opportunity to enjoy the same show as the young birds grow larger and braver, but still remain close enough for us to watch. What an amazing show they put on, and how lucky we are to get to see it.

But I can’t help thinking we would not have such a privilege if I did not change my attitude toward the vines. Because I changed my attitude, the vines grew. Because the vines grew, the young birds have a home and we get to watch them grow.

I can’t help but thing about how many other areas of my life are affected by similar actions on my part. How many things am I missing out on because I try to impose my own will over people and circumstances? Probably more than I would like to admit. The birds have given me the confidence to let go a little bit, and see what happens when I relinquish control and just let things happen. I want to see what other kinds of wonderful surprises come my way when I choose to cooperate rather than impose my will.

Easier said than done, probably, but hopefully the birds will remind me.

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Posted by admin on May 11 2011. Filed under Jeremy Gulley, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry