A spider’s thread catches me as I ride through the black soft night. No sound of anything moving; my bike, the toiling insects, the chatting people, all silent. The wind breathes lightly on my skin. I breathe the night deep into my lungs, savor the emptiness and peace of the moment. Sometimes one is handed unfettered, silent time and that is a most precious gift. Be still with it. Keep your eyes open, ears attuned. Pay attention as you walk through the calm wet air. Feel the almost imperceptible adherence of this spider’s thread to your skin, stretching across the expanse of silent night unbeknownst to the world.
The other day, we visited a forest preserve sanctuary. In cages, were the usual creatures one would find in the woods. They were there to heal from what befell them in their dealings with humans. Up close was a fox, a coyote, a raccoon, a red-tailed hawk, a kestrel, a squirrel, an owl. The place was surrounded by the very forest they would have come from. A forest completely encroached upon by development. I’m so awed and humbled that these creatures keep trying, find food and shelter while we constantly destroy their world. I’m sure they were wishing they could jump the fence. Ironically, a free squirrel sat right outside the cage of the captive squirrel. I’d never seen a fox up close, and the coyote was pacing, lean and fast and edgy. The hawk flew, only to hit the roof. They were so alive and I felt such empathy for them. The power of their aliveness was palpable. Inside was a talking crow. “Hello, hello” he cawed, so wanting company. He put his beak through the wire for me to pet. He stayed still as I pet him, his eyes staring directly at me.