On Signs

It is starting to feel a lot like fall. I played hacky sack today and didn't get very sweaty. There was a slight tinge of yellow on the leaves of the dragon maple. Last week while cycling around carver park, I saw a group of pelicans on Lunsten Lake, and later a rafter of turkeys, and many migrating birds which I couldn't identify. It's easy to see signs that the seasons are changing if you just spend some time in the outdoors. It's maybe not as easy to see or interpret signs that things are changing in one's life. Luckily, when I go out and about, I've always got my eyes open, searching for signs. While I don't take it to the extent of my grandpa the retired methodist minister, who is always evangelizing, looking for good in others and the world and saying that the lord works in mysterious ways, I do agree with his approach to things. If one is looking for good signs, one is much more likely to see good signs.

As I was driving along highway 5 today to visit Leisure Inc. and drop off my portfolio, resume, and cover letter, I was feeling pretty relaxed. I was dressed well, just in case I could meet with the guys in charge. Something caught my eye off in the sky to the right, and I looked up to see a large bird soaring over the marsh of the arboretum. I could tell it wasn't a crane, or a vulture, and it was too big to be a hawk. As I drove, it flew in a direction which would cross my path and give me a great view of it. I carefully held my course on the narrow, busy, two way road, and craned my neck to study the majestic bird. No doubt about it, it was a bald eagle. I took it as a very good sign. I dropped off the materials, smiled, and thanked the cute yet nervous receptionist.

Later in the day I took Maya Halifax (the dog) down to the church parking lot to get her some exercise and to play some hacky sack. When I kicked the footbag high in the air, I watched it get pushed by the wind. I looked past it to see a large skein of geese going with the wind. Then a bit lower than them, I saw a bald eagle again! It was too high to see well, but the sun reflected off of its tail and head in just the right way to reach my eye and let me know. I wondered if it was the same one from before. Considering how rarely I see bald eagles, there's a good chance that it was the same bird. Regardless of whether it was a sign, an omen, or just a lucky happening, it was still very cool, and it made my day.