Hermit Thrush : The Essential Thing
Hermit Thrush
This is a Hermit Thrush. Some birds have an elemental essence that defines them. Think for example of the peacock’s resplendent tail. Consider the majestic gaze of a bald eagle. In a similar vein, the thrush is defined by its song. It’s sweet and lilting, the kind of soundtrack that exemplifies a beautiful day in the forest. And oddly enough, I’ve never heard one live. I’ve encountered numerous thrushes on my wanderings, but for whatever reason, all of them have chosen to remain silent. Do I blame myself? Have I done or not done something that stopped its song? I can’t be certain, but even with a photo like this, with the bird so obviously in its natural element, I still feel as though I don’t quite grok the essence of the bird. I’m still missing a vital piece.
Even after years of study, I still feel uneasy in my understanding of the story of Jacob and Esau. These two brothers, fraternal twins, were such different men, and I’m missing something in their lesson. Their mother Rebecca favored the younger over the presumptive entitlement of his older brother. Mother and favorite son deceive his blind and dying father, seemingly fooling him by a transparent masquerade that allows the younger to seem the older. Even to a casual reader it’s hard to fathom, that the essence of either son could be so superficial, that a hairy arm and a bowl of stew could transform destinies. Centuries of commentary have provided context and justification, but still I find it fraught. There must be more to this episode.
There are many scenarios where we don’t discern the essence. Some facts and rationales are complex and just plain hard to understand. At times the underlying essence is utterly impenetrable, where a situation’s defining element is inherently beyond humans’ capacity to understand. These are God’s “mysterious ways.” And then the most difficult situations: where we are indeed capable of seeing clearly and yet still don’t. We delude ourselves, ignoring the essence openly in front of us. What to do? Persevere. Spend more time on the trails. Read more. Contemplate more deeply. Ask questions - especially of yourself. When our understanding lags - of a Thrush or a Biblical family dynamic - may we have the strength to continue seeking out the essence.