A Cardinal’s Reminder To Be Present

This morning as I sat on my patio drinking my coffee contemplating what today’s note would be about a beautiful cardinal landed by the tree that stands about ten feet away from me.

I watched him (I know it was a male because it was bright red—I never would have imagined I’d like birds as much as I have in the last year 😁) peck through the mulch in search of his next meal and became captivated by the small bird.

As I continued to watch him, I decided I’d grab my phone to snap a picture of him to show the boys. The moment I began to move the muscles in my left arm—not even the actual arm—he flew off and was gone.

No picture, but I had my Daily Note.

Some things aren’t meant to be captured by our phones. Some things aren’t meant to be shared with others—even our loved ones. Some things aren’t meant to be anything more than just an experience in that moment.

Some things just require us to be present.

The cardinal’s quick visit this morning was a reminder to be present and in the moment more often. While I watched him in the mulch I was fully present—I was observing his movements, admiring the brightness of his red feathers, comparing the contrast in his black face with the orange beak, and I wasn’t thinking about anything else, not even the Daily Note.

As soon as I broke being present, he was gone.

Had I never reached for my phone, I wonder how much longer the moment would have lasted. I’ll never know, but I do know the next time I find my Self in a similar situation, I’ll resist the urge to document the experience and just take it in for as long as it lasts.

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC