Jeff loves to feed the birds, and I, on the other hand, am very aware that where there are birds there is bird poop.  Every time we eat at an outdoor table, we have the conversation about how to share our food with the birds in a way that keeps the restaurant (and our meal) clean, and maybe even honors the birds!

 

The day after Thanksgiving we were in front of Kailua's best hamburger joint, sharing a great burger and fries.   The meal was more than enough for two, with some leftover fries that did not measure up to our specifications of crispy on the outside, melty on the inside.  The ground was alive with pigeons and assorted relatives looking for scraps and handouts, and once again the tension of liking birds, but not bird poop, became a problem for me.

 

All of a sudden I noticed a patch of green around a tree two stores down.  I carefully broke the reject fries into tiny pieces, walked down to the tree, and scattered the pieces.  It took a few minutes for the birds to re-orient away from the tables, but eventually our goodies were found. 

 

I was filled with a deep satisfaction... a moment of almost perfection.  I had aligned my impulse with Jeff's impulse, and with the betterment of the whole environment of the restaurant.  I started imagining outside restaurants that actually set aside areas for the birds, more natural settings, more natural food.  Although I had not yet solved all the problems, I had created a both/and moment, when several people ... and birds ... all got what they wanted simultaneously.

 

Now as I write, I realize that my life is speckled with these moments of alignment, a kind of a Oneness where something comes together for just a moment in right relationship.  It is possible.  And this is the practice...