Parable of the Hawk and the Garage

"It is compassion that removes the heavy bar, opens the door to freedom, makes the narrow heart as wide as the world. Compassion takes away from the heart the inert weight, the paralyzing heaviness; it gives wings to those who cling to the lowlands of self."~ Nyanaponika Thera

I have spent the last 3 Saturdays with a couple of new friends. Bob is an accomplished hammered dulcimer player and Wendy is a harpist. Their music is truly a gift of love and always leaves you with a quiet sense of peace. But, as much as I appreciate their music, I feel an even greater appreciation for their gentle spirits. Last weekend as we sat and talked Bob shared a story of an event that happened to him recently. It touched me so deeply that I wanted to share it today.
Bob is a farmer and went into his garage and heard a great racket. He was startled to see a hawk anxiously attempting to get out by repeatedly flying into a small window at the back of the garage. The poor hawk saw what he believed was his only way out and continued to hit the window in hopes that he would escape. All the while, behind this great bird was a very large garage door that was wide open but, in his desperation, he never looked behind him. He just kept ramming into the small closed window over and over again. Now, a hawk is a very large wild bird and Bob is a gentle man who had never confronted a wild animal such as this. However, he felt compassion for the animal and decided that he had to do what he could to help. So he put on heavy work gloves and climbed over the equipment in the garage and reached for the bird. Gently but firmly Bob placed his strong hands around the birds wings. Amazingly, the hawk did not resist but instead turned his head and looked square into his eyes. Bob then carried the great bird to the door and opened his hands and set him free. Instantly, the hawk spread his mighty wings, let out a screech of thanks and flew away. I believe that the hawk felt the love that poured from Bob's hands and heart and saw the gentleness in his eyes. He was helpless and in great need and God reached out guided him to safety with Bob's hands.
I have always had an affinity for hawks. The strength and grace of their flight inspires me. They glide through the air and continually have a view of the expanse of life. Their flight appears effortless. The thought of this beautiful and powerful creature submitting to the offer of help by a human being is nothing less than incredible. Bob's gift of compassion opened the door of freedom. The wise hawk's acceptance of this gift gave him wings to soar freely once again.

How often have I missed the open door to freedom because I was unable to receive a gift of compassion? Today, I will remember the wisdom of the hawk that did not resist a loving gesture of compassion even though it came in the form of a human and pointed him in a direction that he would have never imagined.