Black-throated Gray Warbler : Scouting Report

Black-throated Gray Warbler

This is a Black-throated Gray Warbler.  I just learned this bird existed during a recent expedition.  Before, I hadn’t seen a photo.  Hadn’t heard it discussed.  It could well have not existed.  But I had a guide on this trip, a wholly new experience for me.  I knew immediately my guide was younger than I am, and it was equally clear that he had deep expertise.  It’s fair to say that despite being three decades my junior - is that even possible??? - his experience far outstripped mine.  He immediately spotted this bird, corrected my (mis)identification, and shared anecdotes.  What he didn’t do - couldn’t do - is contextualize this bird for me and ascribe meaning to this discovery.  That’s not a slight; the broader narrative is one we all have to bring ourselves, inherently.

In ancient times, the eldest son was given legal and social preference over the other children.  The first son inherited a double portion from his father for the son’s financial and social duties.  Not knowing any of the subsequent history, one might expect that God would favor Aaron, the eldest brother, to be God’s spokesman and messenger, particularly as Moses feared his own halting tongue would be an impediment.  Instead Moses is selected and given pride of place in the Biblical narrative as our greatest prophet.  Aaron, though, is given his own distinct role:  he serves as the first High Priest, and his descendants ever after inherit this position and responsibility.  Each has a distinct destiny, Moses’s during his own life and Aaron’s in his legacy.

Perhaps this counterintuitive ordering of Moses and Aaron is intended to teach a lesson.  Rather than assign their responsibilities in age-order, their roles are premised on their abilities and strengths.  Moses, the younger, brings to the world new insights and literal revelations.  Aaron, the older, establishes a dynastic infrastructure that preserves institutional knowledge and contextualizes innovations.  The young(er) can see - with acuity and freshness - and the old(er) can see - with discernment and wisdom - how the various pieces of the world fit together and help us grow.  My young scout pointed out a Warbler I could share with God and community; Moses and Aaron collaborated to bring the Law and preserve it in perpetuity.