I am so tickled how well this turned out.
Last week Jason (who works 3rd shift) woke us all up for an impromptu breakfast. Driving back home, we noticed a veritable mass of birds. Since we’d only recently seen a presentation by Louisville Raptor Rehab we guessed, on pretty good evidence (that is, the fact that the birds were large, spiraling on eddies rather than flying and their wings were tipped in silver) we guessed they were turkey vultures.
Now I think this is a beautiful picture, made more so by the presence of birds considered gross at best and horrific at worst. Vultures in movies and books are often used to cast doubt on a character’s hopes of survival. But in a more metaphysical sense (since last week’s concept was faith) I think doubt, like the vulture, is vital part of life. Without it there’s no victory in faith. I also think we are supposed to doubt, it allows us to voice our fears and face our own darknesses and then chose to let them fall away (by believing anyway). There are also lessons to be learned in doubt and darkness. I believe strongly in self awareness and we are by nature flawed people. How can you achieve despite those flaws, or overcome them, if you don’t admit they’re there? We are all human and that’s why our accomplishments are so great, because we achieve despite.
And there’s that whole trope with the vultures and the people stuck in the desert.
For the full effect there’s more pictures below, and video where you can (hopefully) get a better idea of the creepiness of their pattern of movement.
Oh, and I guess I should note that we investigated the area. No bodies, but the park does have a slice of thickly treed area that they probably use as a nest.
