What sets your spark?

I remember the first time I laid eyes on my spark bird.

He caught my eye, a large apparition of cocoa-dusted wings contrasting a white ruffled head and body.

My chocolate obsession has a way of making it into my writing now and then. Sorry, not sorry.

Now, where were we?

His piercing amber eyes see right into my soul.

“Hello, my friend,” he greets me warmly.

We are regulars at this park for years and I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never laid eyes on this magnificent being until today.

How could we have missed a sight like him, I wondered.

“You look, but you don’t see. There is beauty in everything and all around you.”

Soaring high above a brilliant blue sky against the backdrop of a shimmering lake, nothing shined more brightly than him that day.

A gem in the sky, gliding with ease, swiftly swooping down to graze the surface of the lake.

It’s dinner time and his gaze is locked onto one thing.

The catch of the day? Fish, of course.

Mesmerized by nature’s majestic air show on full display for us, I began to wonder who our winged warrior and star of the show is.

A fellow observer answers, “An osprey!”

We stood still, captivated in mind and spirit by this magnificent bird of prey.

My spirit soared alongside him that day, uplifted and buoyed by the beauty of nature’s bounty.

That fateful encounter sparked a deep sense of appreciation in us to see the birds as they are.

They’ve always been here, patiently waiting for us to see them and ourselves as we truly are.

My spark bird taught me how to see beyond the ordinary.

To know what you want and go for it with osprey-eyed precision.

To face tough situations—like the time a web of fishing line was tangled around his talons, but that’s a story for another day—head on without wavering.

To feel freedom in every flight he takes towards his destiny.

A gatherer of people, he brings us together in shared connection and appreciation of nature beings.

A crown jewel born to shine in his own way.

The push and pull of nature and nurture plays out right in front of our eyes.

The interconnectedness of the web of life, of which we all have a part to play.

Our new friend has many homes, and we are so fortunate that our park is one of them.

Borrowing the words of a wise friend, I leave you with this:

You look, but do you see?

Let your spark light up an extraordinary life.