No Exit

Yesterday, someone at work told me that a flock of American White Pelicans has mistakenly taken up temporary residence near the Murray Lock and Dam and the Big Dam Bridge (the dam and bridge are located a bit northwest of Little Rock proper). When I heard this, I was surprised that pelicans would be so far from the coast. Then, when I Googled them, I found that, according to Whatbird.com, Arkansas is well within the bird’s migratory range. So I think maybe their presence is not quite so mistaken.

Regardless, news of the pelicans reminded me that one day, almost two weeks ago, when I was walking through my work’s parking lot after lunch, I noticed a flock of large, white birds circling above the building in which I work. I didn’t recognize the birds, but I’m convinced now that they were American White Pelicans, especially after looking at pictures of them on the interwebs.

When I saw them, the flock was divided into three groups. Each group occupied the same vertical airspace and was arranged roughly in the v shape that I’ve often seen of migrating ducks or geese. The two groups, at the highest and lowest altitude, circled clockwise. The other group, in the middle, circled counter-clockwise. The total effect, when viewed from a fair distance, was like viewing a loosely organized funnel cloud that had gathered its necessary detritus and then stalled above a building.

But the debris was the creation.

Not having the ability to turn away from the wondrous sight, in at least a partially transcendent state, I stared. For how long, I’m not sure. I’m certain it was a matter of minutes. I’m also certain that, like a mouth breather performing a strenuous task, I stood with my mouth agape. I couldn’t help myself. I was simply unexpectedly awestruck by the beauty of God’s creation. I love it when that happens, not really something that can be scheduled.

When I regained self awareness, I noticed a couple of people walking through the parking lot to their offices. Neither of them seemed to pay any attention to the birds. I wanted to scream, “Look! Look! How can you not stop to look at them?!? Take heed you bastards!” But I didn’t. It’s difficult, at best, to force others to see beauty where they don’t find it themselves. Besides, maybe, like me, they had already observed their own birds that day. So, still looking at the Pelicans, I walked on to the building and thanked God for life.