Deep In The Thicket, Beauty Abounds.

See the bird in this image? Okay, so it's not the greatest photo ever taken, but I was using an iphone, so you must bear with me. Okay, now look again: see the bird in this image!?! Yes, there he is! Is he not great or what? My husband and I decided to take some days off and tour the beautiful state of Colorado. At this particular, seemingly secluded spot, we stopped to enjoy the panoramic vista that begged our attention. Suddenly, to the side of me, I heard rustling. Now, notice the thicket at the left hand side of the photo? Well, to my delight this gorgeous bird was perched deep inside that thicket, staring at us, then turning his head in curious wonder across the vista, as if he couldn't decide what or who held us spellbound. My breath was taken away by the magnificent beauty of this creature. (Okay, trust me on this one, the picture does not do him justice.) As if on cue, he sensed my delight, thrust out his chest and ruffled his feathers, turning around in the thicket as if he hoped to divert our delighted "oooh's and ahhh's" from the ho-hum mountains and valleys to the stunning beauty that he knew he was. Well, he sold me. "Oh my gosh!" I squealed (quietly) to my husband, "look at that magnificent bird! Oh, he is gorgeous!" My husband, craning his neck to see, answered, "Where?" "In that thicket! See that deep blue bird? Right there!" I whispered.

"Oh, yeah....hmmm....yep, I see him," he answered, as he turned back to the mountains which forever call his name, "yep, pretty bird," he muttered. "Let me have the camera," I begged, "maybe I can get his picture." "Okay, wait a minute......" he answered, as he continued snapping away at mountains that will stand STILL throughout eternity. 

Watching the bird dance around in the thicket, I knew he would soon be gone. Sure enough, he quickly disappeared so deeply into the thicket that not even a hint of his blue glory could be seen. My husband barely grunted when I lamented that I didn't get a photo. As we climbed back into the car, I picked up my husband's iphone to check for messages. "Look, there's your bird," my husband stated as he started the car. The bird had made his way out of the thicket once again, standing on one of the outer limbs staring directly at us, as if he knew it would make my day if he came out to wish us farewell. For some reason, I grabbed a package of half-eaten cashews, rolled down the window and tossed a couple on the ground, close to where our car was parked. Without hesitation the bird immediately flew from the thicket, looked up at me in gratitude and squawked several times (thank 'ya ma'am!) before he began devouring the treat. The bird now had my husband's attention. 

"Did that bird just land right next to your door to eat the cashews you tossed?" "Yes! He's so close I think I could reach out and touch him!" I threw the beauty another cashew and he squawked again: "thank you, ma'am".....a total gentleman....before devouring the gift. 

"He's a scavenger," my husband snapped. "Just a stinking little scavenger! But, he did thank you, as you said. I'll give him credit for that." 

My husband began driving away as I was still trying to toss broken cashews and capture a picture (with the iphone, no less). 

"He is a beauty," my husband said as he took one last glance. "Scavenger or not....he's a beauty." 

This little bird made my day. Hidden in the thicket of life, many times the places that we don't want to go, there is beauty to be found. And whether that beauty turns out to be a grateful and gracious little creature or just a smart little scavenger, that little bird reassured me that even in the deepest places, the places that cause us pain and discomfort, there is beauty hidden that will one day step out to the farthest limb......and then, even into our lap, just because it is time to be recognized.