Barred Owl : Why Me?
This is a Barred Owl. It’s a fledgling, the “teenager” phase between a completely dependent nestling and an independent adult. Owls in this stage actively learn from their parents. The parents model various behavior, and the youngsters emulate it. It’s fascinating to watch, and we were fortunate to see Mama on this outing as well. We didn’t approach intrusively close, but she did fly off. It’s conceivable we were threatening - or just the opposite. Mama was sufficiently confident in her child’s safety that she went off looking for food or simply her own space. Perhaps she was demonstrating to her child that it’s prudent to fly off when people get within a certain distance. This stage of life is all about lessons - easy and hard.
“Theodicy” is essentially shorthand for “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Job’s life is of course the archetype, but there are plenty of more nuanced examples as well. Moses was denied entry into Canaan for striking the rock. But was the punishment truly proportionate? Given all Moses’ merit, couldn’t a forgiving and compassionate God have let him enter? Go a step further with Aaron. His sons Nadab and Abihu were consumed for offering strange fire on the altar. The transgression is clear - from their perspective - but what about from Aaron’s? What had he done that he should have to suffer the death of two sons this way? Surely that was a question anguishing him in sleepless nights.
Writ large, theodicy baffles me. But maybe rephrasing the question as “Why do bad things happen to me?” can be instructive. A friend recently related hard news afflicting his child. I recalled prior hard times my friend has experienced. Perhaps those earlier struggles were purposeful; perhaps they were preparation for now aiding his child. Is this the “right” answer? Is it even a fair answer? Who can say. But as I look at my friend, a bit gray and a bit scarred - and so full of love for his child - I have to think the trials we all experience become wisdom we can share with the next generation. Owls, wise owls, teach their young how to experience challenges, and so must we. May that be comfort enough for our hurting hearts.