Golden-cheeked Warbler : Every Singular Day
Golden-cheeked Warbler
This is a Golden-cheeked Warbler. I find something special and instructive in all my bird encounters, but these birds are truly unique. In all the world, there is only one small region in Central Texas where these birds nest and breed. And even within our area, they choose only a particular type of habitat. They’re here for only a brief period each year, heading back south after raising their young. Various legal protections are in place to create a safe environment for them given their very specific needs. And it’s small wonder that people come from all over the world to see these charismatic and beautiful creatures, to experience the sense of singularity that derives from their exclusivity. This morning was a - differently - special morning.
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year. Annually my mind turns to what it must have been like in ancient times. The High Priest would have been readying himself, physically and spiritually, for weeks. Sacrificial items and routines would have been minutely choreographed. He was sequestered in a special chamber, where he remained awake all night to insure ritual purity. Special clothes, worn only once, were prepared for his entrance into the Holy of Holies. Even a “backup wife” was designated so that he was eligible to offer the requisite sacrifices! And alone - so alone - the High Priest would go where no one else would ever go. Every moment of this holiest day was utterly unique, requiring perfect observance and fidelity.
It is not easy to be singular. Dependence on a single-point breeding ground jeopardizes the warblers’ survival. Communal celebrations post-Yom Kippur testify to the extremity faced by the High Priest. And yet. Singularity is of course the sine qua non of God revealed to Abram. And singularity is the hallmark of humanity - and each human - taught to us ever since. Each of us is imbued with a unique combination of talents and abilities, and yes, weaknesses and challenges, that guide our steps. So take a moment. Take a moment to appreciate the singularity of your self, your work, your relationships. Marvel, yes, marvel at the Warbler and the sanctity of Yom Kippur, and remember that their lesson resounds in our every day.