Bird and Man Alike

 Bird and Man Alike

An oriole pecks aggressively at his reflected image in the window, defending his territory - his nest nearby - against what he perceives as an interloper, really himself. As the sunlight changes, his image disappears. He thinks he’s won and flies away.

In his current stage of evolution, is man any different? Man competes against man. Though he is unconscious of his own fear, or, more likely, won’t admit it, he sees himself in the mirror of his competitor, as he engenders fear in him, and gets defensive.  Some take it to the extreme…buy guns, make war. As man further evolves - hopefully in the not too distant future - and becomes enlightened, competition will fade, and cooperation rise. He will see a different image in the mirror of another…a man not to fear, but to understand. A man, if so needed, to help.

Regarding Mr. Oriole, he has built his nest on a somewhat horizontal section of the downspout on the side of our house. Our house has become his house, too. He is telling us a lesson in life: You're supposedly more evolved than birds. Be aware of your own feelings, and express them, but not in a way that will be hurtful to you or others.