Witnessing Unity in Community

The things we can learn from nature... A few years ago, I watched a program on PBS about the red-tailed hawk who lives on the windowsill of a high-rise on 5th Avenue, just across the street frm Central Park in New York City. The locals, who named him "Pale Male" met him with both positive and negative reactions. Some recognized immediately that he was a natural predator who might help control the pidgeon population, as well as taking care of some rodents. Otherrs, who actually like the pidgeons, were not so thrilled.

The documentary followed the saga of this lone bird who somehow managed to call a mate to Central Park the first spring he was there. No one knows where she came from. They named her "First Love", and celebrated as the two red-tails mated and formed a nest together on the building across from Woody Allen's penthouse. For two years, people gathered and watched, hopeful that the nesting would produce chicks. Finally, in the third mating season, the pair produced three small chicks. New York was in love!

People gathered daily near the model boat pool to watch and learn about nature in ways that those of us who live in rural areas take for granted. One woman commented that her farmer friends couldn't imagine what all the fuss was about! Red-tailed hawks are not an endangered species, but there had never been a documented pair in New York City.

People watched, fascinated, as Pale Male relentlessly hunted to find food for his family, fought off predators, and tenderly coaxed his fledglings to learn to fly-- in a way that was not natural to hawks, since hawks usually learn to fly by hopping from brand to branch. This nest was on a window ledge, perched precariously over traffic.

People gathered from all walks of life. Homeless and jobless mingled with multi-millionaires. Scientists patiently and amilably chattered with toddlers who expressed delight in something new. People of great diversity came together and, for a time, found something to care about in the midst of the struggles of daily life.

As the chicks prepared for their first flights, people prepared for possible disaster. There were so many dangers-- windows they might fly into, traffic to fall into, other predatory birds to injure these young, inexperienced hawks. A woman with a terminal disease spoke of "feeling their fear"... of relating to what it is would be like to face the unknown with confidence... to just let go and soar.

How often do we cling to window ledges, afraid to just let go and soar?

When they finally left the nest, one by one, there was something almost spiritual about the whole thing for those who had faithfully gathered, hopeful and watchful, eager to share that experience with one another and these wonderful creatures. For just a moment, these diverse people were ONE.

God created us to be individuals... unique and diverse in our personalities and beliefs... with different abilities and strengths, gifts and talents. God brings us together to be ONE with each other and ONE with our Creator, reminding us every day through the world that He/She created to let go of our fears... and soar.

It has been eighteen years now since he arrived in New York City. At the time of the documentary, he had survived three mates and taken a fourth, and raised twenty-three chicks.

Think of all the lives that have been bettered by the coming together around that model boat pool in Central Park to witness the miracle of life. May we, too, see miracles in what others take for granted. may God show us, also, ways to come together- "That They May All Be One" (the motto of The United Church of Christ).