“Can a dead man remember the singing of a nightingale and the fragrance of a rose and the sigh of a brook?
Can a prisoner who is heavily loaded with shackles follow the breeze of the dawn?
Is not silence more painful than death?”
“He was the one who first sang to me the poetry of real life.” Khali Gibran — The Broken Wings
So, Lord,
Take these broken wings
So I may learn to fly again
And learn to live so free
When I hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up
And let me in. John Lang
There is a very strong woman that lives in my town and worships at my church. She works full time training doctors and nurses so that they may care for others. She provides a soft pillow to travelers through her air BNB. She feeds the poor in our town through the church food pantry (last month feeing 612 people). She has the brightest smile. The meaning of an angel in “human form” is a messenger, a kind and lovable person, or one who manifests goodness, purity and selflessness. This description fits her perfectly.
A few days earlier, the pastor had asked for prayers for her, as she was under the weather. Seeing her at church yesterday, I asked if she was feeling better. She replied that she had an injured shoulder that acted up from time to time.
“Boy do I understand. I have a broken wing, too.” I replied.
Stopping, she looked me squarely in the eye. “I’ve named my problem the same thing. A broken wing.” In that moment, we formed the bond of The Sisterhood of the Broken Wing. Wanting to write about this productive woman who manages to squeeze more into a day than I can squeeze into a month, I googled “Broken Wings”.
“An angel with one wing still in tact symbolizes freedom and that no matter what happens, there is still hope.” I had no idea this is really a thing. One-winged angels. Who knew?
Personally, I’m the one-winged angel that, thru widowhood, managed to maintain optimism, faith, and hope. At times, the wilderness of widowhood brought me to my knees. But like a beautiful butterfly, freedom is here. I’m learning to “fly” again. Through God’s grace and mercy, I’m continuing to fly higher and higher each day. I’m learning to love myself again. Still the same person I’ve always been, I’m becoming stronger and freer with each new day.
The sisters of the hood are now nursing our broken wings back to health. Together, we can do greater things now that we have two good wings between us. A town needs angels on earth. Find a need in your town and help fill it.
Have a wonderful Monday.
More tomorrow.