Osprey : Soaring in Alignment

This is an Osprey. He is magnificently winging above the water, carrying the rainbow trout that he’s caught for his breakfast. Seeing a bird plummet into the river and snag a fish that we can’t even see is truly a marvelous spectacle. But something even more interesting happens at this stage. Look closely and you’ll see that the Osprey carries his fish head-to-tail. He has aligned the fish so that it’s more aerodynamically efficient, and he can fly with it. Ospreys weigh about 3 pounds, and by turning the fish this way, they can actually fly with prey that weighs more than they do themselves. Proper alignment is critical to their ability to soar.

Our morning Shema reminds us each day to speak the words of Torah we have been given “on our way.” For myself, the most fertile way to create my offerings is to dictate while I’m walking down the trail. Physically, the trail demarcates the cleared way from the obstructed and tangled. Spiritually, even a simple hike becomes imbued with profound meaning when the walk becomes an opportunity for Torah contemplation. The Shema’s instruction reinforces that awareness of HaShem is not something that occurs only in a single place or at a single time, but rather say that we should continuously harbor that awareness, even when we are “away.” Torah sets out our path.

It is often challenging to align our steps when the way forward isn’t clear. How do we progress when routes are obscured or opaque? I would suggest that the answer lies in our traditions. Torah and mitzvot provide a path and guardrails. Their guidance provides separation between this and that. Their guidance provides continuity from here to there. On the trail, I have an easy trek and visibility of birds and the horizon. Aligned, I gain perspective. The Osprey teaches us that alignment allows for soaring to otherwise-impossible heights. A life of Torah provides us with the identical opportunity.