Rodenberg, Andrew
Why not drive with the Windows Down?
The beautiful blue jay named Blue fluttered his wings and landed on the oak tree, which stood tall behind the rusty Texas barbed wire fence. He gained his balance and gazed across the flat terrain that he called home. On this spring day, the weather was great. The sun was at full peak and the air was as gentle as the ocean breeze.
Perching with his feathers fluffed as an alert bird, his dark gentle eyes focused soft and mellow as he gazed at the other birds settle within the boundaries of the only world he knew. Family birds soared through the air and grazed among old mesquite and shining ponds.
Blue stood out among most birds. His coat was bright blue. He was more colorful than a lot of blue jays, but he felt his beauty went unnoticed. Birds played with him, but looked oddly at him. This darkened him at moments. He only wished other birds could see his inner glow of friendliness, humor and love
Crows, redbirds, blue jays, dove, quail and even turkey would frequently gossip about Blue's views and comments about the bird world. His speech seemed as if it took on its own science. He took in life from all perspectives, from the sight of ugly crows fighting, to young lady doves flying.
On this day, Blue could see the young doves nestled on the limbs above the pond. He saw the magical beams of light gleaming off the water into the lady dove's eyes, reflecting the purest glow.
Blue wondered where he stood in the whole picture. He eyed the life around the land and tried to make sense of his existence. He loved the entire scene, but often grew nervous and sad about the fast pace of the birdly world. Things moved and appeared faster and scarier as he aged. It seemed no one took the time to really enjoy themselves anymore. Birds around him seemed sad, not adventurous, like dying birds; birds that just didn't seem to take flight for enjoyment, but rather just to reach a destination.
Two miles from where he sat was the lake, which he called the spiritual lake. The other birds agreed the water was pretty, but no one dared to fly over it. There was never any logical reason why, but Caldwell county birds just didn't defy norms. No one ever spoke of why decades ago birds strayed away from flying over the top of the lake.
Once Blue's close friend told him that his dad knew of a bird that almost went for flight over Spiritual Lake. However, the bird never developed the courage because of the laughs of others. Blue asked why, but wasn't given a rational answer, and that was the way it was.
From Blue's view the water seemed perfect. He saw no reason why birds couldn't be free to fly over the lake. "The water causes no harm and birds might just gather something magnificent by flying over the lake," he thought.
On this day, Blue decided he would keep to himself because he realized there was something that needed to be done. He couldn't fully touch or grasp it, but the sun was giving him a hand, permission in a way. Subconsciously, he knew what was ahead of him. Blue wanted every bird to know that flying over the lake could be done. He concluded that everyone might just gather something overwhelming, electrifying to their hearts and senses.
On top of the Oak tree a young Mockingbird landed beside him.
Blue greeted the bird, "Isn't this day just grand." The bird agreed with a nod, then looked away. "I think I'm going to take a long flight today, just because this day is so great. The bird halfway looked around at Blue with uninterested eyes. "I think I'll take a flight over the lake today," Blue exclaimed to see if that would grasp his attention.
The mockingbird chuckled and looked away.
It was finalized; he was going to glide like an angel over the water that shined so grand.
He fluttered with confidence out and above the trees, slowly shooting towards the sky in an adventurous motion. As he glided, the ground drew near and the water seemed clear. He breathed in all the life around him. Blue heard the music of the brilliant wind, which carried his soul aloft, towards the outer embankments of the water.
Suddenly, the sun found his spacious wings, creating a force field of love around him. A smile drew upon his face as the sun hit, like strings came down from the sun and pulled up his smile. As he drew over the edge of the lake, he could hear freedom ringing as loud and proud as church bells. Reflecting off the water, the suns essence reinforced the kingdom around him. Blue started to stand out like a star upon a Christmas tree top, but heavenly floating and flying. The water, sun, and sky engulfed him, masking him with pure ecstasy. This feeling channeled through his blood, ferrying him over the lake, without the need to even flutter a wing. "The spirit of the lake shall shine in me forever," Blue thought.
As he flew, he dreamed of flocks of birds behind him, smiling in ever direction, soaring with no traffic, solely there for the warmth and for the possibility for the feeling to be shared. "I'm riding the true root of life," Blue said aloud.
Blue always talked about the spirit of the lake, but sensed no one could see it. On this day Blue didn't uncover the mystery of why birds didn't fly over the "Spiritual Lake," but he gathered happiness and no harm was done. He just figured many birds were caged, avoiding their ability to be free. This was an assumption that generated in Blue's mind, but he felt it and that was enough.
Later that evening Blue returned to his nest and ate dinner. Looking at the sky, the last thing he said before he shut his eyes was, "Thanks to the spirits that lived in me today." The last thing he saw was the spirit sending down radiant love from the stars and moon.
Why not drive with the Windows Down?