Swainson’s Hawk : Tamar & Judah
Swainson’s Hawk
This is a Swainson’s Hawk. I had just arrived at the park, and as I started to explore, I encountered a woman at the crossroads, and we started to chat. She was kind enough to give me a heads-up that there was a Cooper’s Hawk just down the trail. She was clearly excited to see the hawk. Less obviously, but certainly noticeably, she seemed excited to be able to pass along this knowledge to me. To have a piece of sharable intelligence is a gratifying feeling, no question. I turned to see the hawk. And I thanked her very much for the helpful report. We parted ways, me off to see the hawk, she to the remainder of her day. I walked nearer - to what was unmistakably not a Cooper’s hawk. I made no effort to chase her with a correction.
The Bible records how Judah impregnated a “prostitute,” who unbeknownst to him, was actually Tamar, the widow of his dead son. Judah had feared to marry his third son to her, as duty required, and Tamar made a plan to enforce her rights. She put on misleading clothes and sought out to encounter Judah. Judah didn’t have payment for her, so he left pledges, his staff and seal. He later was told that Tamar, the betrothed of his youngest son, was pregnant by another man, a capital offense. Responding to Judah’s accusation, Tamar sent him his own pledges, making clear that her “guilt” was his to share. Instead of condemnation, Judah instead fills with appreciation for Tamar’s gracious revelation and clear merit. Wow.
Tamar’s story is as challenging as it is rich. Look intently at how she revealed herself. She could have made a public declaration. She could have accused him before the elders. She could have approached Judah’s third son. Instead she created an environment in which the right thing happened - while still avoiding shaming anyone. Do we do this? Or do we look to score points with the last word? Win the argument? Tamar was inarguably in the right regarding her marriage claim. But she didn’t see being “right” as the right thing. I made no effort to “correct” the kind birder I met, to diminish the value of the gift she gave me. Did the Hawk’s beauty - its inherent meaning - depend on being a Cooper’s or a Swainson’s?