“A Man Was Walking in the Woods, Alone”

Friday, May 8th, 2020. 8:08 PM.

“A Man Was Walking in the Woods, Alone”

In the month of May it was . . .

“A Spiritual Love Story”

A man was walking alone in the woods. And he came upon a sight that touched his heart with sorrow. He saw, hanging from the branch of a tree, a bird cage. And in that cage was a bird that was all blue. And the bird was quiet. And the man understood right away in his heart that belonged to the Lord, that the bird was quiet from lack of food and water – and maybe from the bird’s understanding that she had been both imprisoned and abandoned in a desolate wilderness — and would soon die from lack of love and food and water, all alone.

So, the man asked his Lord what he should do for this pretty-yet-sorrowful bluebird. The Lord spoke to his heart that he should open the bird cage door. So, he opened it – thinking the bird would just fly away and he would never see her again. The bird had been sleeping and she woke up. She was so surprised that her cage door was open. She felt exhilarated by hope; and her little heart began to beat stronger with excitement and joy that she was about to be freed! She had resigned her soul that she was doomed. She took one glance at the man standing there in front of her cage; and then a glance at her open door — and she just flew out and was gone! The man stood there watching her fly away and felt as if his own heart was flying away into the wild blue yonder with her. He resumed his lonely walk thinking he should be happy for the bluebird; but he was sad that she was gone from him. About 8 minutes later, he felt a light touch on his shoulder – so, he turned his head – and there on his shoulder was the bluebird. And he felt comforted in his heart to see her again. And she hopped a few inches closer to his face and she touched his cheek lightly with her beak. He felt that she had just given him a thank you kiss. It made him smile. It blessed his own lowly soul. His sadness went away. And for the rest of their walk, she stayed right there on his shoulder. When they reached his car, the bluebird remained on his shoulder as he got inside. The man was hearing in his heart John Denver singing “Sunshine On My Shoulder Makes Me Happy.”

‘ Sunshine On My Shoulder ‘ John Denver with lyrics

When they arrived home the bluebird was still on his shoulder as he got out of his car and walked into his house. Inside, the bird flew to a floor lamp and perched there on the frosted-glass rim. There was a small table and a chair beside the lamp. The man understood the bird needed water and food immediately. He wondered how long she had been alone and abandoned in the cage in the woods. He went to his pantry to get some water. He had never fed a bird in his home before. He was not sure how to do it. The Lord helped him. He poured filtered-refrigerated water into a teacup to the brim while thinking she could just perch on the rim and drink all she needed. He brought the cup to the bluebird still perched on the frosted glass rim of the floor lamp and showed it to her. Then, he put it down on the little table below the lamp – about 5 feet from his own chair where he usually sat to drink his tea. There was a window between the two chairs — with a view of the western sky. The man often looked out that window. During the early evening, even while sitting in his chair, he could see the evening star rising brightly after Twilight. And he would think: “The evening star and the morning star are the same star: Venus.” He also read in his dictionary that Venus is the name of the Roman goddess of love and beauty. And he read in his Bible, about Jesus, in the last chapter of the last book: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” -Revelation 22:16. NIV Study Bible. As soon as he set the cup down, the bluebird landed on its rim and began drinking enthusiastically. The man had some bird feed; so he went back to his pantry and poured that into another teacup, filling it to the brim; and presented it to her; and then, set it down beside the water cup. The bluebird immediately perched on its rim and began to take in nourishing sustenance, enthusiastically. This routine went on for several days.

One morning, the man awakened, and in his kitchen, made his morning cup of tea. He went to his chair and sat down to enjoy it. After taking a sip he looked up and saw the bluebird. She made a few tweeting sounds; and then she began to sing for the first time. The man wondered if he was hallucinating. She was singing a very sad and heart-felt song; and she sounded just like a beautiful lady to him.

AL MARTINO – WHAT NOW MY LOVE

And then she was quiet again. He did not understand what had just happened. Didn’t know if it was real or imaginary. He took another sip of his tea and concluded that it had been a lovely experience – whether it was real or imaginary – and he was at peace. So, he let it be; and finished his tea.

The next morning, he awakened and did just as he had done the day before. He made a cup of tea and sat down to enjoy it. A few minutes later, the blue bird chirped a few bird sounds as if she were clearing her throat and began to sing again.

“Play Me” by Neil Diamond Lyric Video

Again the man did not understand if this was real or imaginary. Again he simply concluded that the experience did him no harm – and it was pleasant to him to hear this music. He finished his tea.

The next morning was a Wednesday. The man had been born on a Wednesday [wed nes day . . .  wed nest day?]. As usual, he got out of bed and made his cup of tea; and then sat down in his chair to quietly enjoy it. After one sip he looked up at the bluebird. She seemed to be waiting for his attention. She cleared her throat with a single tweet and began to sing to her man.

What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong – with Lyrics

The man still did not know exactly what to think about all this: a singing bluebird who had a voice like a sonorous lady. He got up and went to the window to look out at that wild blue yonder of the western sky. Then he sat down again and looked at the bluebird, wondering who she was that had such a beautiful voice and could sing such beautiful songs to him. He closed his eyes and prayed to the Lord his God for understanding and wisdom. When he opened his eyes a beautiful lady in a blue dress was suddenly sitting in the chair below the floor lamp and beside the small table. The bluebird was gone. He closed his eyes again and prayed again. Then he opened his eyes once more. The lady in the blue dress was looking at him. A faint smile was on her lips – like Mona Lisa, he imagined. He just waited for her to speak to him. She said not a word. He wanted to hear her voice. So, he spoke in the hope that she would reply. “Greetings, O Sonorous Lady.” She remained silent. He wondered if she was waiting for him to sing her a song – after all the songs the bluebird had sung to him. He closed his eyes again and prayed again to his Lord for inspiration. He opened his eyes and glanced at the digital/atomic clock on the table beside him. The date was May 12th. He remembered the song: “The Twelfth of Never.” He was not a gifted singer of songs, although he loved music and listened to hymns and love songs every day. And they comforted him deeply. They made him weep sometimes, too. All of a sudden he felt empowered; and he opened his mouth and he looked at the Lady and their eyes met and he began to sing to her:

ANDY WILLIAMS – THE TWELFTH OF NEVER

Still, the Lady was silent.

The man did not know what to do. He thought, “Well, she is very pretty. I feel at peace in her presence. He closed his eyes again and silently in his heart he said, “O Lord Jesus Christ, thank you. He prayed these words to his Lord three times. And he opened his eyes again. The lady was still looking at him. He asked, “Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Yes,” she replied with a slight smile on her lips.

So, the man said to her, “Would you excuse me while I prepare it for you?”

“Yes,” she said again.

So, the man got up and went to his pantry and prepared a cup of tea for the Lady. As he was preparing the tea he thought to himself: I’ll always remember the first word she ever spoke to me. He brought the teacup on a saucer to her; and placed it on the night table beside her. And then he sat down in his chair again. She lifted the cup and took a sip and with the cup and saucer in her lap she said, “Thank you, Will.”

Will: “You are very welcome, Lady.”

Lady: “Will, do you know the song, “Barbara Allen?”

Will: “Yes.”

Lady: “I am Barbara. We have met before, Will — a long, long time ago. I have longed to see you again – and to ask for your forgiveness for my hard-heartedness.”

Will: “I forgive you, Barbara.”

Barbara: “Thank you, Will.”

Will: “Welcome, Barbara.”

Barbara: “I would like to offer you my love and kindness and loving kindness, Will.”

Will: “I accept them, dear lady.”

Barbara: “Thank you, Will.”

LONGER BY DAN FOGELBERG LYRICS

Will: “Barbara, may I read poetry to you?”

Barbara: “What is the name of the poem, Will?”

Will: “Sonnet 116.”

Barbara: “Is that by William Shakespeare?”

Will: “Yes.”

Barbara: “Yes, William.”

Will went to his bookcase and took out a book and sat down again and began to read to Barbara:

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

Oh, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.

Love’s not Time’s fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle’s compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error and upon me proved,

I never writ, nor no man ever loved.” -William Shakespeare, 1609.

-The Norton Introduction to Literature -Fifth Edition.

Barbara stood and walked to William: “May I see your book, please?”

Will handed the book to Barbara.

She returned to her chair and sat down and searched the book ‘till she had found the poem she was looking for. And she began to read it to Will.

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise;

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints – I love thee with the breadth,

Smiles, tears of all my life! – and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.”  -Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1850.

Barbara then closed the book and stood up gracefully; and slowly and considerately handed it to Will and returned to her chair and sat down.

Barbara: “There is a song I want to sing to you, Will.”

Will: “May I hear it, Barbara?”

Barbara began to sing:

I Who Have Nothing Haley Reinhart Lyrics

Will: “Barbara, the only One I have is the One Who has me, the Lord our God. I have no one else on this earth, but Him.”

Barbara: “Will, there is something I want with you very much.”

Will: “What is it, Barbara?”

Barbara: “To dream beautiful and glorious dreams with you. And: “To go where no man has gone before” — with you, my Love.” -Star Trek.

Will: “We’d have to be wedded to do that, I suppose.”

Barbara: “I would be honored to be your wife, Will.”

Will: “And I would be equally honored to be your husband, Barbara.”

Barbara: “May our Lord God be pleased to “make it so,” then, I pray.” -Star Trek, The Next Generation.

Will: “Amen.”