Fun and Feathers – Highlight 111

A friend classified herself as a neighborly-friendly friend.  As I observed her I learned that this was  truly a life-style for her.  She may have learned it from her life as a pastor’s wife and widow or as the daughter of  parents who were devout christians.  But to me her care for others comes naturally.

I like the concept of being a neighborly-friendly friend.  Being neighborly reminds me of the second commandment, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself,” and  the way that Jesus defined  neighborliness in his story of the good Samaritan.  Jesus lived as a neighbor to every one. So much so that his enemies described him as a friend of sinners.” They meant it as a slur, but I think it was beautiful tribute. Everyone needs friends and needs to be a friend.

Friends embody goodwill.  I believe mutual goodwill is the key to universal peace.  Our small group of birders has mutual good will. We help each other to hear, see, and identify birds.  On our last walk we saw and heard a yellow billed cuckoo.  That bird is relatively rare for our area.

A five year-old boy and his mother joined us on the walk this past Wednesday morning.  Obviously, he was intellectually advanced beyond others of his age and the object of much good will by his mother and the birders.  He was interested in everything beautiful or mysterious.  By the end of the walk he had collected a hawk’s long tail feather in one hand and a small stone with what looked like a fossil in the other hand. I took pictures of him holding his treasures.

Yesterday  morning Eldon awoke to the news of the massacre in Aurora, Colorado.  His son, Phil and his wife live in Aurora, so he called him.  Phil was on his way to work at 6:15 and had not yet heard the tragic news.  How quickly a peaceful night can be turned into pandemonium.  Questions are slowly being answered.  Mine relate to how and when the alleged perpetrator did not receive the good will that was due him. When did  his attitude toward others turn from good will to ill will?