Roe vs Wade

Look at the birds of the air...."

he said to us one day (Mt 6:26).

I have been doing just that.

A robin nested on the elbow of a down-spout

outside my second-floor kitchen window.

I watched her through all her "appointed rounds."

In conformity with unalterable blueprint,

she built her nest.

In blind obedience to a mandate within

she brought her sacred eggs to term.

With unquestioning fidelity and spontaneous devotion

she fed her chicks.

With uninterrupted vigil she sheltered them

against snow and rain.

And then one day,

led by the eternal ordinance

that governs growth and love,

she let go of them.

They flew away. The nest is empty

and I feel lonely.

I stood in awe at her appointed rounds.

I admired her standards of excellence.

I marveled at her miracle unfolding before me.

And then one day it dawned on me.

I said to myself:

"Why she's on `automatic'!

She's not free! She has no choice.

What she does she is forced to do!

Poor thing!"

We humans are not

on "automatic."

We're free; we have

no "appointed rounds."

We have "choice."

We can do what robins can't do:

We can neglect the nest.

We can abuse the children.

We can nip them in the bud.

We humans are not on "automatic;"

we're on "manual."

We're free; we can put

our hands on things,

We can lay our hands

upon the miracle,

and turn the child into choice.

It's our "gift" of freedom, they say.

Lucky us!

Robins "on automatic" were created

as guides and exemplars

for humans "on manual."

"Irrational" creatures that they are,

they automatically know something

we "rational" creatures don't know.

That's why he said to us one day:

"Look at the birds of the air...."