A couple of days earlier, I was walking and met up
with another neighbor that lives across the street from Carol and just down from the field. She shared that both she and Carol had owls living in the trees behind their houses, up to approximately four to six weeks ago. Apparently Carol‘s tree had died, but they didn’t want to take it down because an owl lived in it, and eventually it fell. The other neighbor decided to take her tree down voluntarily because it was too big and didn’t want the risk of it falling on their house. I’m not sure whose
owl we rescued, but that has led to connecting with two neighbors, bonding over our love of nature and creatures.
This brings me back to the photographer’s tip that came to mind as I walked away from my short conversation
with Carol today. The best way to zoom in on a subject is to use my feet, not my lens. To get closer. To walk toward my subject to whatever degree possible. In that conversation, I realized how much this photographer’s tip applies to human relations.
Because I take walks in my neighborhood and generally greet strangers in other public places (whenever that feels appropriate), I put myself out there to connect with other humans in real time. I have no idea what Carol believes about religion or politics, and I don’t need to know. I love how she cared so much for her owl that she took the risk of a dead tree falling on her home to not displace the owl from its home. I know that she and I both enjoy living
in our neighborhood where we are blessed with an abundance of nature’s gifts. And I sensed her goodness. Even without knowing her well, I bet that if I needed something and Carol had it, I could feel safe asking her for help.
Given the extensive controversy our land is filled with and the many opposing factions in society that exist, it would be easy to start losing faith in people—to pit ourselves against one another and participate in division. But if we’ll make the effort to use our feet, to step out and get closer to people in the real world beyond screens, we will be reminded that most people have a heart beating for a lot of the same things that ours beats for.
Most people are inherently good.
Most people want what we want out of life: safety, joy, fulfillment, a place to belong, peace and love—the fruits of prosperity beyond what our socioeconomic status can provide. Let's be sure to focus on our commonalities instead of our differences.
How can you use your feet to reach out and connect with someone today or this week? Are you willing to get closer, to really see them? If someone approached you, will they find you open to a real encounter, an exchange of hearts?
Life is full of riches that
we won’t find in the bank. Get closer and rediscover how we are more alike than we are different. For most of us, connection with others is not limited. Please go help yourself! And see how many others you can touch in the process.
I'll put more photos plus videos of Howell Da Owl's rescue in our FTG Readers Group. Initially unsure if he would make it through the first night, he is recovering and making progress at Harmony Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Please consider a small donation to this essential non-profit organization, if you feel so led. They are wonderful people. Our owl alone has had a few vet visits, sedation, X-rays, and surgery to remove his injured eye. And apparently owls eat a lot!
