On the eve of September 11, 2014, I looked and searched for a sign of peace...
I knew it had to be somewhere in the garden. It just had to be.
Last year, on the 12th anniversary, I was sent a signal of hope...Hummingbirds finally landed in my little plot in suburbia. After decades of wishing, they stopped by before migrating south for the winter.
This whole summer, I was teased with glimpses and fly-bys. I was sorely disappointed, hope diminishing as the summer was waning.
Last night, we heard how the country is entering into another war. I thought back to history, and realized, we've always been involved in war throughout my lifetime... just not for so long since Vietnam.
This week in the garden, the hummingbirds finally returned stopping by to feast before their migration south...
They will take a sip or two from the feeders, but prefer the real food found from flowers...
But when a butterfly came by to also feast...
it became the War of the Nectar.
In size, the black swallowtail butterfly is larger than a ruby throated hummingbird. But it was eventually driven away by the small green fighter, and came aloft to another part of the yard.
My yard is always full of battles. Dragonflies battling over prime perches...
Siblings pushing each other to get fed first...
And water fights...
but then comes more moments of calm..
and rest...
On this September day, it was cloudy and overcast.
At the beach, the winds blew inward from the sea, and the sea birds reveled in the buffering breeze and hovered above the pain and tears spent by the humans below.
And watching the beauty of their flight brought me peace and comfort that I sought.
On this September 11, 2014, 13 years after my world was turned upside down, I continue to seek peace and balance. What I've been realizing, is that I simply need to remind myself that peace is actually all around me, even when witnessing battles in the garden.
Peace to all.