Visitor

See him? Right in the middle of the tree? That tiny speck of red?

This is actually an early morning photo in early fall/late September. For several days in a row, a male cardinal has appeared pretty much in the same spot. Cardinals have a distinctive chirp and over the summer we’ve had quite a few of them in our yard. When I hear that chirp, I know to look for a cardinal somewhere in the yard. So besides the color, the chirp leads my eyes to where they are.

Some like to believe that cardinals are loved ones come back to visit or that cardinals show up to remind us of loved ones who have passed away. I’m not sure that’s accurate – and really have no way of proving or disproving.

However, even if there is no intentionality related to cardinals showing up, they still gently cause me to remember those who have “gone on around the bend”.  This morning I am thinking of my dad and my Aunt Pat, and because I just saw a picture of her old fishing cabin, my Great-Grandma Berry. I am reminded of what they taught me and how they lived. I know I would like to be remembered at least gently and hopefully fondly, but most of all as having actually lived rather than just existed.  I also hope that like them, it will be said of me:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”