Sacred Time

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“Although the world is very full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” – Helen Keller

Early the other morning, my cat came in with something in her mouth. It was so small, I couldn’t see what it was. When she put it down, I tried to pick it up and it fluttered against my hand and I saw a flash of green when it did so I discovered it was a bird. This was only about a week after the cat had brought a baby bunny in and both were during my sacred time, the 90 minutes I have to do yoga, meditate and write before the kids wake up.

I was irritated because I thought she was done with the phase of life of hunting little creatures.

I was distracted because wanted to go back to reading and writing about the precious things of life.

I was annoyed that instead of finding inner peace, I was scrambling around on my hands and knees doing the quiet angry whisper at the cat.

Despite all this, I managed to get the small lump of feathers between a greeting card and a paper towel and I took it outside. I thought it was dead and my plan was to just release it into the bushes off the side of my deck.

As I let go, the small lump of feathers fell for about a foot, then righted itself mid-drop and flew away. It revealed itself as a little hummingbird as it rose higher and higher.

Stunned, I just stood there for a long moment feeling the magic of that flight course through me. It was as if I had the after-image of that free fall into flight burned into my being. I had goosebumps all over.

It was life showing me that no matter what cat has got us in its claws, there’s always a chance that it will let up and we’ll fly away.

And to see it fly was poetry in motion that even as battered as we feel, we can always rise again.

Most importantly, I saw that this was my sacred time. This was the beautiful beat of life coming to me to be witnessed, held and let go.

Quote comes from a Real Life of an MSW post: Overcoming.

(featured photo from Pexels)

50 thoughts on “Sacred Time”

  2. Oh Wynne, that’s so sweet! You know that studies demonstrated that if there were less domesticated cats, we would have about a 10% decrease of biodiversity? They are hunters, that’s their nature. Cristiana (I sign because I am having an unresolved issue and my comment might appear as anonymous, which is something that I don’t like)

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  5. Apparently, there’s a new show on streaming services about the new research being done with cats. The trailer showed someone saying that living with a cat is essentially living with a wild animal. We think we’ve domesticated them, but their animal instincts to hunt and bring back trophies are just as active as ever, but our expectations of them to be tame and domesticated keep increasing. It’s probably our expectations of them that need to change, and not their behavior, which is after all, still instinctual!

    Sacred time is very special, and maybe the message is to see not only the beauty of the hummingbird but the spirit of the cat!

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    1. I love this, Tamara. what interesting research. The spirit of the cat – you’re right. I missed that altogether. So glad you reminded me! Happy Monday!

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  6. Makes me wonder how often I miss the miraculous and poetic moments in life because I’m so focused on what I “need” to be doing at that moment. Very beautiful AND thought-provoking post!

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    1. Me too! I often am way too focused on what I need to be doing. Thank you!

      By the way, when I click through to your profile, I don’t find a link to a blog. Do you have one that isn’t linked to your Gravitar profile?

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      1. At least I’m not the only one! 😊 That’s weird on the other – I don’t even have a Gravitar profile. Or at least I didn’t know I did. 😆 I just have my posts linked to my main page because I’m not very techy, but odd that they don’t show up. I’ll check into it – appreciate you letting me know!!

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      2. That’s interesting about the link to your site. Usually I can just click on people’s screen names and it takes me right to their site but it’s not working with you. Let me know if I can help in any way and I’ll keep trying!

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    2. You and me, both. It reminded me of Michael Jordan’s “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

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      1. EW, I love the Michael Jordan quote — and how you made the connection between this post and it. A whole new aspect on the topic that makes me think and makes me smile — as usual!

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  8. Your car actually caught a hummingbird?! That is the first miracle. Watching it fly safely away was the second miracle. I’m surprised you thought that catching smaller animals was a phase your cat would grow out of. That’s an innate part of their being. Once our 16-year old cat brought home a chipmunk mere hours before she (the cat) passed away; happily, like with your hummingbird, the chipmunk scurried away as soon as our on-her-last-legs cat released her.

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    1. Whoa – a chipmunk right before she passed. That’s an amazing story, Jane!

      Maybe a better word for it was that I’d “hoped” she grew out of it because she seems more sedentary these days. But you have a good point – it’s a misguided hope.

      And regardless, the miracles that you point out abound! Happy Monday, Jane!

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  9. I appreciate the uplifting sentiment, but I was not quite aboard the flight when you got to “And to see it fly was poetry in motion that even as battered as we feel, we can always rise again.”

    I tripped on the word “always.” Though I’m sure you didn’t intend it, Wynne, many of “the battered” find themselves overmatched by life and have understood similar comments by others to suggest they aren’t trying hard enough or that their faith was inadequate. Many of my patients within orthodox religious communities of various kinds certainly did.

    One could point to the three friends of Job in the Bible, who went so far as to suggest he must have done something wrong to incur the successive disasters that befell him.

    I know you meant none of this.

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    1. Oh, I love this point of correction, Dr. Stein. You are right, I didn’t intend that and it was also sloppy. My very limited and privileged experience of life has taught me that we can sometimes rise again. But I meant it as a point of hope for those low times, not a judgment in any way because life is hard.

      Thank you for this very thoughtful comment! It’s nice to be back and be in conversation with you again. I always learn something!

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  11. Your post brought to mind the comfort of an old sacred hymn . . . someday, because of His “battered”sacrifice, “I’ll Fly Away”, forever healed and free.
    Thanks Wynne.
    Be Blessed sister.

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  12. SUCH a beautiful story and thank you for this lovely reminder 💚💙 I saw a hummingbird only once in my life and it felt so surreal. I felt like I was walking through a dream and it looked like an illusion. They are so magical indeed!

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    1. Thank you, Libby! I love your sentence “I felt like I was walking through a dream and it looked like an illusion. ” Wow, that’s poetic! Thanks for reading and adding this beautiful comment.

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  13. Aww … that was a beautiful distraction, Wynne, and a reminder of how our busyness can sometimes keep us from seeing the tiny miracles all around us. “And to see it fly was poetry in motion that even as battered as we feel, we can always rise again.” — especially love that! Have a great week.

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  14. It’s great that your anger morphed into wonder as the incident wore on. I love how life has such amazing lessons to teach us—if we will only listen. That’s your gift—listening! I love the story, and most especially that the hummingbird survived!

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  15. What a beautiful moment, Wynne. How nice that the hummingbird survived and that you saw the deeper truth in this beautiful life affirming moment.

    I do have to say too that it’s endearing your cat keeps bringing you these animal gifts. As much of a nuisance as it is, it is trying to earn your admiration too.

    Life works in funny mysterious ways indeed. Happy Monday and hope your reentry back from vacation is a smooth one!

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    1. Thanks, Ab! I love that you remind me that the cat’s gifts are endearing. You are so right – as always!

      Re-entry was good. Thanks for all the good wishes. Hope you had a good Monday too!

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      1. Thank you! 5 days in (almost 6 because it’s nearly midnight here). It’s been rough. I’ve tried to write a bunch of times but I can’t think through the brain fog.

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