Its a terrible picture. Its grainy and dark, but it was a great moment and I decided to keep it.
Last Saturday Cindy and I drove to Houston to be with a good friend. The husband had acted in such a way that he lost his job and might lose his marriage. The husband and wife are dear to us. We sat with them separately, different locations, looming darkness. We cried with them. We cride in the car. Cindy and I cried in each other's arms. It was painful and it is ongoing.
We wanted to lift the pain and heal the hurts, but betrayal is real and lasting. It will take time and grace, forgiveness and faith if they are going to make it. We wished there was more that we could do. Our hours came to an end and we started the long and lonely drive home. We talked and cried again.
It was dark when we came into the neighborhood. We rounded a corner and i stopped as the headlights caught an huge owl sitting in the street. He scooped some water out of the gutter. I waited. He winked at me. He gulped again. I gazed. I tried to turn a little to see him better and he hopped up into the tree. we stopped and watched. He didn't screech of flee. He just sat quietly and it was enough.
His quiet wings sounded like a comforter hanging on a clothes line. His eyes were open and almost unblinking. It was enough. He didn't do anything. He did not say anything. He just showed up. In over 50 years of watching birds it was the longest and closest I had ever had with an owl.
I wish I could have helped my friends more, but all I could do was show up. I could listen, I could play close attention. I could surround them with my arms. I'm praying it was a help and that it will be a help in days to come. Maybe there is a place you need to show up. It will be enough.