Wonder is Everything

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides, the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature ... the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter."

Rachel Carson

La Luna Llena

Moonset #1

Early, early morning full moon setting, settling into the treetop foliage greatly inspired one of the local early-early birds. The stillness held by the distant sshshshshshhhh of the Caribbean Sea meeting the land, before cars add the layer of sound made by wheels on pavement. Moon bathing, wonder takes the helm.

Heralded by one Owl vowel, Laughing Falcon per usual began predawn vocals with a short solo of intermittent kha….kha….kha. Then kept going, evolving different rhythms, accelerating to the crescendo laughing call that is its namesake. Inspired or horny, in a moment, I recognized there was a response coming from deeper west into the jungle. Is this love? The antiphonal duet of two Laughing Falcons was only the beginning of an astounding morning.

My perch is on the corner of a third level, in the treetops of the Maya Jungle, La Selva Maya, The House of the Jaguar. The rooftop 4th level is an expansive space of sky and endless green. Sun and Moon rise and set over the forest. Living in the branches and foliages, my nearest, abundant neighbors are the bird people. Well, and bug people.

Soon enough the light was moving from gloaming to dawn and I headed to the roof to watch moon set #2. She invited me to my body, not sounding but movement to accompany the neighbors sunrise expressions. Dancing down the moon. Except Toucan became a teasing distraction, slipping from branch to branch, obscured by leaves from my vision.

The blessing of bearing witness, enfolded in Ma Jungle’s heart, I feel the direct, immediate sensory experience is the experience of knowing God. It’s that simple: beauty way.