Snowy Egret : Reflected Names

This is a Snowy Egret. He’s in his breeding plumage and absolutely resplendent. This is a common bird, but seen in just this light, he was exceptional. The morning light left much of the creek in shadow. The bird’s shocking whiteness absolutely compelled my attention. And at this particular moment, the gentle breeze highlighted the specific details of each feather while giving just enough texture to the water that his reflection becomes impressionistic instead of a mirror. This was a new park for me, and seeing this familiar egret in such a new way created an entirely different dynamic. There are times, and this is one, when the photo I receive gives me more even than being present with the bird live.

In Jewish tradition, names have great power and meaning. Abram is renamed Abraham to denote his impending role as the father of many nations. Jacob earns the name Israel, meaning “the one who victoriously struggles with God and man.” Custom holds that we name our children after deceased relatives. It is more than only honoring our dead. Keeping the names alive means also keeping alive the departed’s memories, emphasizing their characters and contributions. Little children asking how they got their names are taught their generational legacy. And for the parents, it is an opportunity to reflect on what they loved in their grandparents or parents and an opportunity to envision blessings for their children.

For the parents, the deceased are real. We knew them. We knew their light and darkness; we knew them in relationship. And we knew them in the fullness of the legacy they left us. To our children, these people - real people with real lives - are collections of stories. A name. Maybe a quickly-glanced photo. Occasionally a source of questions or passing interest. Is one image “right” and the other “wrong?” Perhaps the answer is acknowledging that all of us matter in the various ways we’re seen - in our clarity and in our blur. All our titles - grandfather, father, son - have different, albeit equal value. The Egret is inspirational whether we look at the “real” one or its reflection; may we also be inspirational in all the ways we’re seen.