Sister Mahala on Defending the Faith, Blackberry Bushes, and Other Murmurations

A rather zealous young man asked Sister Mahala, “What is the best way to defend the faith?”

“To defend the faith or to defend yourself?” said Sister Mahala.

The young man blushed, then replied, “To defend the faith.”

Sister Mahala said, “How does a blackberry bush defend the faith? Or a cumulus cloud? How does a flowering dogwood tree or a red-tailed hawk or an ice crystal or a little girl with cerebral palsy defend the faith? How about the Aurora Borealis, how does it defend the faith, not to mention the Sort Sol in Denmark or the sailing stones of Death Valley? How do they defend the faith?”

The young man looked befuddled. “I don’t know?”

“Well, that’s a good start,” said Sister Mahala. “Watch and learn.”

“Do they?”

“Do they what?” asked Sister Mahala.

“Do they defend the faith?”

“There’s nothing to defend,” said Sister Mahala, “when you’re living it.”

~ Dan Miller, © 2019. All Rights Reserved.

In Denmark these starling murmurations are called Sort Sol (Black Sun) because of how they blacken the sky at sundown. For another beautiful short film of this aerial spectacle CLICK HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page.

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