I Held a Hummingbird

I had a fascinating thing happen to me.   As I was winding down from work one day, I heard my dog barking relentlessly at something on the screened porch. Naturally I went to investigate.  I was surprised to find a hummingbird had flown inside the porch but could not find the way out.  

She was beating herself against the screen over and over and over.  Occasionally she would grab on with her claws and rest.  It was hard to watch.  I immediately put the dogs up and tried to figure out how to shoo her to the door and back into the wild.

I was having no success.  She was so tiny and delicate, I was afraid to use much force.  I could see her energy waning.  Slowly she drifted lower and lower to the ground.  When it looked like she just wasn't going to be able to fly again, I went and gently picked her up.  She just lay in my hand, cheeping softly but making no attempt to fly away.  I slowly walked outside the porch and held my hands out into the trees.  

I stood in awe as she fluttered her wings and flew away.

This whole event lasted about 30 minutes and I was so nervous the entire time.  I did not want to witness her dying on my porch! 

But when I held her, a calmness settled over me.  I could not get over the fact that I was holding a hummingbird!  I can't imagine how exhausted she must have been to have allowed this.

I've always had a bucket list - all those exciting things that I can see in my future and enjoy dreaming and planning for.  Holding a hummingbird had never even crossed my mind.  It was, however, an unexpectedly emotional moment.

It reminded me that regardless of how much planning I do.  No matter how hard I work to control my time and activities, that it is these unexpected moments which need to be cherished.

It is important to not only be open to the unexpected, but to acknowledge that something unique is occurring and set aside your to-do list and participate fully in this moment.

I hope life brings a hummingbird into your life.

Mimi