Pelicans

This weekend I spent some time out at our lake house. The house is about 7 miles outside of Atchison and has a wonderful picture window that overlooks a very little lake . While it is always wonderful to have a relaxing weekend and enjoy the nature that wanders by, this weekend was particularly wonderful in that there was a flock of about 40 pelicans that were hanging out on the lake.

Now for those of you who may be confused (as I was my first fall in Atchison) apparently American white pelicans spend their summers in wet prairies and marshes and Atchison is right on the migration path of a group of pelicans as they head to their winter lodgings. Every year they stop on by for a rest on our little lake. They were quite a wonder to behold.

This morning at prayers, the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, I started thinking about what an appropriate weekend for the pelicans to show up. The pelican, for those of you who don't know, is a common Christian symbol. Legend has it that, in times of famine, a mother pelican will pluck her own breast and feed her young with her blood, resulting in her death. The pelican is thus an apt symbol for the crucifixion of Christ, which he suffered willingly for the sake of the church.

How interesting that on this Feast Day the pelican should show up to remind us the beauty in giving of ourselves for others. A great reminder for us all.