I looked up this week to see a huge outline of a hawk, silhouetted in the bright spring sky. It was moving in unusual small circles, and after squinting a moment I saw the tiny shadow following behind it, a baby hawk learning to fly!

Friends, it was not at all graceful. The little hawk was flapping and unsure of its navigation, and even ran into the parent at one point, causing both to careen off at odd angles. There was squawking and redirection and at one point I imagined I saw a lot of bird eye-rolling on both sides.

But just a little later that day, I saw them again. This time the small hawk was tracing larger circles in the sky, while the big one arced waaaaaay above – still watchful, but from a greater and greater distance. In just a few weeks, the little one will not be so little, and I bet I will not be able to tell which is which.

Dear ones, it is a season of thresholds for so many of us.

May we be devoted.

May we be courageous.

May we be kind.

May we find our own patient and generous guides, as we flap around and learn to fly.