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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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On Feathered Wings
I know very little about aerodynamics or ornithology, but I love to watch birds fly. Occasionally they struggle a bit as they take off from the ground or the water, or while they search for a strong wind current. Once they find the right draft, however, they seem to soar effortlessly. With their feathered wings spread out at just the right angle they dip and rise and glide through the air like a kite without a string. On my daily walks I watch for solitary bird feathers along my route. I have quite a collection of them, now, and I marvel at how soft and fragile they are. A hollow, stem-like shaft holds a multitude of barbed filaments that can be separated or joined like the velcro fasteners on an infant's shoe. Flexible, yet strong enough to offer some resistance, these feathers take advantage of the the wind rather than fight against it. When a wind is too strong or not moving in the desired direction, our feathered friends simply go with the flow and search for a current that better suits their needs. If the draft becomes too weak or dies out completely, the birds simply flap their wings a bit to move themselves into the next current and then look for another if that one doesn't suit their needs. It is a highly creative dance with choreography invented to fit with prevailing winds rather than music. Patiently, these aeronautical masters learn to use the wind with precision. They move almost intuitively through the sky toward their intended target with an accuracy that would seem beyond their cranial capacity. Imagine how much different our lives would be if we learned to move as effortlessly through the forces we encounter as the birds who dance on feathered wings in the wind.
© 2003 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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