Choosing tasks...

Wren: Mom Bird in front of well hidden nest on our shed door.There is a wren, a small brown bird with black and white eyebrows, nesting in the wreath that I left hanging on our shed door long after winter festivities were over.

I discovered this, when I went to the shed to get the lawn mower. I was surprised to find that the door was staring back at me with small black eyes that were also surprised. The bird was so neatly camoflaged by brown pine needles and shadows, that I was not sure at first what I was looking at. When "Mom Bird" flew out with a start, I peeked into the nest to see a few speckled eggs waiting for her to come back.

A well manicured lawn is not that important to me.... even though I like to garden. I enjoy having the house look happy and lived in.

However, I did not immediately assume that my nesting needs were more important than hers. "Mom bird" clearly has right of way.

So, to avoid disturbing her any more than necessary, I enlisted Stuart's help. We ever so gently opened the shed door. We planned to open the door only once. We got everything out of there that we might need for the rest of the summer. The lawn mower can be in the back yard for a while. My gardening tools can sit next to the kitchen door.

Mom Bird needs use of the shed door right now more than I do.

Sometimes the most worthwhile tasks, the tasks inspired by kindness, the tasks that take into account the needs of other people or other beings, are not always the most convenient tasks to do. We might have to add in some extra steps, or to give up some steps in our projects to keep in line with our larger goals of stewardship and peaceful coexistence.

The extra effort is worth it.