Extending Love to a Goose in a Storm

Where I live, there is a little body of water just outside the house where many birds gather. I have always cherished the animal kingdom and see animals of all kinds as my closest friends: graceful, fully present, wise and beautiful. It is a source of joy and fascination to look out my window every day to see what the birds are up to out there and watch them do their thing.

Recently, there has been a spell of extremely cold and nasty weather, sub-zero temperatures and blowing snow. The body of water has frozen and has been abandoned. However, upon looking out at the ice this morning, I noticed a single Canada goose, huddled on the ice braving the storm all by itself, it seemed.

Immediately I felt sadness and pain for the goose, wondering why it was all alone. Had it been abandoned by the flock? Was it sick or injured? In no more than a minute of noticing these thoughts in my mind and how they made me feel (very yucky and scared), I realized I was projecting fear and pain and suffering onto that goose and that I needed to stop right away and ask for help in seeing this differently.

Animal Communication as a Spiritual Teaching?

I then recalled what I had learned in the animal communication classes I had taken in 2020.

As part of my fondness and admiration of animals, I have taken a few animal communication classes that were profoundly moving. I found that the skill of communicating with any animal is nothing more than the acknowledgement that all minds are joined, and that time and distance has no effect on communication. The classes were another form of spiritual training that have helped me tremendously.

One insight I had learned is that animals know they are not just their bodies. They are aware of the Truth of Love and are in touch with that reality in a way that most humans are not. They know who they really are! As such, they have no interest in the past, in their own life story, in pride or in sympathy. They do not wish to be seen as weak, less-than or as victims; they know they are valuable as beings beyond their circumstances. This teaching came into awareness and I realized I was not helping the goose at all by feeling sorry for it and wishing it were in a different situation. I decided to practice what I had learned from ACIM and animal communication to turn this around in my mind. I knew if I didn't I would be worried about this goose all day.

From Aloneness to Oneness in an Instant

I stopped, stood still and closed my eyes, and remembered that I am One with that bird outside in the cold. I reminded myself that the goose is not a poor little suffering thing to be pitied or seen as weak or limited. I told myself that it is not separate from me, and that I'd like to send my loving care to it right now, to warm it as it sat on the ice. I wanted that bird to FEEL the warmth of being One in Truth, and to know that I was with it.

This warm, soothing loving awareness welled up inside of me as I focused my intention on the goose outside, sending it the intention to feel the warmth of Love that we share from God. It felt real, palpable and beautiful. It’s such a gift to realize that I am One with all things all the time and to carry that experience with me, and to give it away to others, no matter what their body may look like. It was so calming and uplifting. Focusing on the Love within me and extending it the bird wiped away all sense of worry, fear, and doubt that I had. What a beautiful change of mind, and it took less than a minute to go within, focus my intention, and receive the gift of inner peace and Love. and experience for myself, knowing it was reaching my feathered friend who was seemingly "outside" in the cold.

An Invitation to Extend Love~

Often we can get tricked by thoughts of sympathy for another's circumstances, as if it is a concern that our worry will somehow address or solve. But as ACIM teaches, there is no need to solve anything in the world. Our greatest gift can be to simply join with another in our minds and send Love.

Is there someone in your life today that you can help by sending them the silent awareness of Oneness and Love? I invite you to give this a try and see how thoughts of lack, worry and fear are replaced with connection, warmth and care. It's a blessings we all can share:)