Yellow-crowned Night Heron : Exertion and Restoration

This is a Yellow-crowned Night Heron. The magic of these birds is their ability to stand stock-still, legs seemingly just twigs in the water. When a small fish nears, that beak shoots down like a rocket. Just watching one is exhausting, as you internalize the same pent-up intensity. That same spring coils inside you, begging for release. There’s an almost palpable relief when the bird finally strikes. The Heron’s exertion is its survival.

Our Shema instructs us to love HaShem with all our heart, all our soul, and all our might. Our tradition is rich with interpretations of these dimensions, exploring our intellect, emotions, and worldly actions. This wholistic approach to love moves in two directions. “Upstream” - love must come from the person’s fullness. Fractional (fractured?) commitment isn’t enough. And “downstream” - loving from heart, soul, and might integrates us into a full person. Our devotion re-forms us, bestowing Shalom, wholeness.

Each day - each moment - we confront intensity or passivity, giving our best or phoning it in. The passive course is tempting, especially when we lack the psychic energy to focus on yet… one… more… thing. But our tradition teaches the restorative power of exertion. We paradoxically deepen our reserves - through even the most mundane activity - when we give our utmost. So watch the Heron. And be assured that heart and soul and might all are replenished as we live with loving giving.