Snow White in Suburbia

Summer is here in SC and all of the returning birds make me think of two people - my dear Uncle Larry in Tuscaloosa, whose Sunday morning devotions are conducted on his porch with the birdfeeders in full view, and a dear friend of mine who seems to have the great (mis)fortune of being a person that wild animals feel very safe with.

Sort of like a suburban Snow White, if a nest of baby squirrels falls out of a tree they inevitably land at her feet. If an opossum decides to have a snack from her birdfeeder and gets its hand stuck, she is the one who must rescue it. Neighborhood dogs love to play in her yard, deer enjoy the flower bulb 'snacks' she leaves for them, and once she even saw a small pig roaming around her property.

All of this reminds me what a vast treasure Mother Nature has graciously shared with us, and we have the privilege of viewing/tasting/smelling/touching/hearing it every day. And for when I forget, I've set up a little altar on my back porch (an old peach crate, really) where I put stuff I find in my yard or out on my walks. I wanted to share them, especially the one where a bird wove trash into treasure.

My hope for all of us in this season is that we can spend some time with the Really Real. And if you can't get out to nature, head over to your local garden center and pick out a succulent. Better yet, get two and take one to the memory care unit in one of the local nursing homes. Those beautiful souls need to be reminded most of all.

Have a wonderful day, and walk barefoot for a minute. You won't regret it.

In all grace and peace.