A Lesson from a Sea Bird (Thank you, God)

 

While walking on the beach

I saw two gulls on this rock.

One was standing and casting

 its vision out over the sea.  

The other seemed to settle down

 as if to nest.  

No, that cannot be, I thought. 

This is a terrible place to raise a family. 

Too exposed, too cold,  

just too downright uncomfortable. 

If the egg actually hatched, 

how would the chick survive?

Sometimes they don't, I know, 

but if she was going to nest, 

why would she not go to the comfy trees 

that were just behind us, where a neighborly 

turkey vulture was waiting patiently

for the beach visitors to clear 

before feasting on an expired 

and well seasoned mola fish 

that had washed ashore.

That is a whole other mystery.

 I  took a picture of the gull,

a photograph that will not improve

one little bit my reputation

 as a photographer, 

 and we walked on.  

However, she has stayed 

in my mind and hopefully 

on that rock if that is really 

what she wants to do.

I have learned that gulls do indeed 

prefer to nest out in the open 

on rocks and exposed high ledges and such.  

 I think about her 

and wonder if she is ok,

and goodness, what about 

all this rain?  

Couldn't we build her a tasteful little gull hideaway?  

Okay, okay, I know

 they like to live life out in the open, 

But I swear if I knew someone 

in that small beach town 

I would call them and ask 

if  they could check on her, 

maybe I could even pay 

someone to keep watch,

 but then again 

this beach town has some

rather wealthy people 

who probably do not need my

two cents worth, and anyway 

there are a lot of gulls along the coast 

(I almost wrote our coast, 

but that seems presumptuous,

even tacky) so they seem

to have worked things out

and probably would prefer 

just to be left alone to tend 

to their own gull business.     

 

So  Holy One, you who care 

for the whole ocean as if it is yours, 

which, of course it is, thank you. 

I know we humans have kind of

made a mess of things but we 

do keep trying to stand upright 

and walk on our own two feet, 

just like we have been taught, 

and to use our brains 

for some good purpose. 

I would appreciate 

your tending 

to this gull and her beloved 

because now I have learned 

that gulls mate for life,

not hiding under some small tacky tent, 

but under your wide blue sky,

 and if left to themselves, 

can live a pretty long time.  

Holy One, I am grateful,

which is a nice way to 

start this year.  

I want this poem 

to have a happy ending, 

but I will never know.  

I do know you tend to things

in your own way which 

is usually a mystery to us; 

we are just not that far along 

that we can even understand 

that your happy ending 

just might be different enough

from anything we can conjure up 

just to keep ourselves comfortable

and death free.   

I will say, 

because I cannot help myself, 

that I really liked that

 turkey vulture, and I hope it was able 

to dine in peace on the mola fish

which looks to be a curious

creature, alive or deceased.  

What a neighborhood, Holy One.

What a blessing just to see a glimpse of it 

as we walked by.       

                

 

 image:  Stinson Beach, December 2025

Fifth Day of Christmas

 Yesterday (Sunday) Tyler and I both had the day off. Tyler briefly made the suggestion that we might use the day to clean the house. I quickly vetoed that logical and very sound suggestion. We then decided to explore Marin County. The traffic was not heavy so it was a pleasant drive. Where we ended up was Stinson Beach. We fairly quickly found parking and walked down a short staircase to the ocean.  

It had been years since we were there last. The beach is wide and flat with large rocks at one end. No dogs or other pets are allowed. (I am unclear as to what other sort of pets might enjoy the beach, but I guess those in charge want to be clear that no domesticated animals would be welcome. I think horses are right out.)  Partly because of this ordinance and partly because Stinson Beach does not seem to be a rabble rouser sort of town, the beach is clean, and the sea birds do seem a little calmer.  After our explorations, we then walked back up the stairs and found a place for lunch. It was warm and sunny enough to comfortably sit outside. 

As we ate and talked, a thought came to mind  that surprised me: "I am not sure I deserve this happiness." I mentioned this to Tyler who asked me, "Why would you think that?".

 I really had no answer. 

 

This morning I think happiness is a practice. It is also something we receive, like grace. It can be fleeting. One day you are basking in the sun eating a french dip sandwich, the next morning you are despairing about the news. Happiness takes a steady hand on the rudder as we live our lives, hopefully in gratitude and in relationship with the Sacred and with others on this journey.

 In the book,  A Way To the Heart of Christmas, editor Brian Linard includes a few paragraphs written by Alfred Delp, S.J.  I was unfamiliar with Father Delp's writings, but I have now learned that he was imprisoned and eventually executed by the Nazis. Although his hands were kept bound, he was able to write and smuggle his notes out with his laundry. That means there was someone there to receive them. I think there are good reasons why his book, The Prison Meditations of Father Alfred Delp, is worth reading, and I intend to do that. Was Father Delp happy as he wrote in prison? Highly unlikely. Yet, his faith held firm. He knew his purpose, and I am grateful for the inspiration.        

   

"God is with us. That was his promise ... And that promise has become a reality in our lives, in quite a different way from what we expected, a much fuller and much simpler reality than we had thought it would be. 

We should not try to avoid God's burdens. They are the way to his blessing. If we continue faithfully to follow the hard way, bearing God's burdens, we shall discover the inner source of reality and the world will reveal itself as being not silent in a sense that is quite different from what we had imagined. The silver threads of the divine mystery of all reality will begin to gleam and sing aloud for us. Those burdens will become a blessing for us, as soon as we recognize them and bear them as God's burdens."   

Alfred Delp, S.J. 

  

I have no answers as to why there are those who seem to think of little else other than controlling, imprisoning, torturing, and killing others. These actions are cowardly and ultimately do not work. They will never have the last word. The last word will always belong to God which means truth and love will prevail. Therefore, we can indulge in experiencing our happiness when it surfaces, knowing it is a gift. I know to some that seems an oversimplification, and it probably is. However, I think Father Delp knew and trusted that simplicity. 

Brian Linard and New City Press seem a bit lax about identifying actual sources such as books, but at least we have enough to follow the thread, which I always enjoy. This quote may or may not be from his book of prison meditations, but from another book of his. It does, however, seem like a good place to start. Regardless, blessings as you follow your thread this Christmas season and always. Trust your burdens and your joy.  Please leave us a trail. We are listening for your song.           

       

  

image:  "The Way Can Get Rough, But It Is Worth It"

             Stinson Beach, December 28, 2025