The Practice of Peace
how hummingbirds taught me the power of rest
Fingers, sticky with butter, press against the window. Eyes wide with wonder gaze at our backyard, while squeals of delight mix with the familiar refrain of “They’re back! They’re back! Our hummingbirds have come home!” These hummingbirds, or “honeybirds” as my youngest calls them, create reckless joy in our home each year. Our large picture window looks out onto the backyard and is perfectly situated for lingering meals spent watching our winged friends.
While their arrival each day results in shouts of glee, this particular morning holds an extra dose of excitement because our hummingbird friends were absent for most of the swelteringly hot summer. This morning marked their first day back in our backyard. Having neglected the feeder in their absence, my older daughter and I rushed out to clean and refill it. I love the compassion that nature inspires in her heart. Many a mama opossum, father cardinal, or sister hummingbird has been fed from her kindness.
Watching the “honeybirds” eat their breakfast is a near sacred ritual for my girls. It’s imperative to our routine that I plan an adequate margin of time for my daughters to see their hummingbird friends. This practice creates a little slice of wonder in our day. We may have missed this small joy if we hadn’t been taking our time one morning, several years ago during lockdown, when we first spotted a flash of jade and ruby in the backyard.
While the world coming to a halt had many downsides, there was beauty in the gentle rhythm of our days with nothing on the schedule. We took time to sit and stare out the window, and appreciated the leisurely moment of our lives when we could get to know the hummingbirds. I discovered that I am willing to sacrifice a packed schedule for these gentle practices of rest and appreciation for the world around us.
The world preaches the benefits of hustle and bustle, the constant grind, the endless rush of remaining busy; but I don’t want that for my girls. My daughters learn a great deal from observing the patterns of the hummingbirds. While they appear in constant motion, our sister hummingbirds move with intention and then savor their rest. We stare in awe at the way the father flies around to check the perimeter, his watchful gaze steady as he signals the mother and babies to come drink. Each member of the family takes their turn to perch on our feeder, drink deeply, and then the hummingbirds return together to a tiny, cozy nest. Peeking into each of these moments brings beauty and a gentle pace of peace to our lives.
Christ defended his peace in a gentle manner. In scripture we see him retreating from the crowds (Luke 5:16 ESV), praying in the garden (Matthew 26:36-46 ESV), and even drawing in the sand (John 8:6 ESV) to create a space of peace amidst the chaos. I struggled for years to appreciate the gifts of rest, reflection, and peace. Understanding that Christ retreated for time and space to pray and reflect helped me to honor these needs in my own life and empowered me to create that for my daughters in our home.
Building in the margin of time to appreciate the patterns of hummingbirds, consider the needs of an opossum, or simply enjoy a long conversation about the day has become a deep well of joy in my life. While I am continually tempted to sign up for another extracurricular activity or to hurry out the door for something that feels important in the moment, I am learning to gently slow down our life to make room for peace. I recognize that the ability to take this slower pace is a privilege not afforded to all; how I wish it were. In this season when time is a blessing we are fortunate to have, I strive to learn from my daughters’ example and enjoy a leisurely morning, rejoicing in the return of the hummingbirds.
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Honeybirds! That is precious. Thank God for these moments of rest. And for that gorgeous jade and ruby.