I’m so fortunate to be back in England for the summer in my peaceful, idyllic Cotswold haven. One morning, I cycled to the next town and decided on the way back to divert through the side streets. Naturally, I got terribly lost, but in the process, I stumbled on a park with some truly amazing wooden sculptures. When I got back to my town, I passed by the bridge over the little river and saw, to my delight, an egret, followed by the rare flash of an iridescent kingfisher. I was speechless and my heart was full.
I’ve often spoken about how being open to experiences can lead you to magical encounters like this one, and for me, I continually crave these opportunities to feed and uplift my soul. Most mornings, I go for a walk around the neighbourhood, taking in the bridge over the river, always hoping to see something special. Sometimes I do and often I don’t.
One morning, I looked for an egret over the bridge and didn’t see one, though I strongly felt his presence. I walked along the little river path and was excited when I spotted something white – though it turned out to be discarded paper. A couple of seconds later, boom – the egret flew up from where he had been hidden in the bank. I was rewarded for my yearning, perseverance and for tuning into my environment.
I’m always seeking out wildlife encounters, not just because I love animals, but also for how they immediately bring me into the presence of the eternal, transporting me from my ordinary world into a realm of wonder beyond my immediate understanding. I think in some way, we all hunger for a connection with something greater and everlasting, which we try to maintain through our relationships, work, creativity, faith and our interactions in the community or wider world.
Amidst our struggles with change and impermanence, we are constantly searching throughout our lives for some kind of consistency or certainty beyond our ephemeral existence. We try to ground ourselves by forming a bridge between our ever-evolving world and the eternal. Sometimes this connection is stronger than at other times, and when we achieve it, there is a true feeling of communion and well-being. It is our looking that makes us human and our finding that makes us divine.