June 2024

I had no intention to write this until something unexpected happened today.

Today I was sitting down to write and had just finished eating a bowl of oatmeal at a place I am staying for a few days called Vision of Peace. All of a sudden a bird flew up within 10 feet of me. I thought to myself, this bird wants some of my food. Then, I was shocked to witness the bird ignore me as it began to eat a large, dead cicada.

I was able to get a picture of it which is below. The bird needed at least 10 bites of the big insect to finish its meal. Afterward, the bird strutted away like it was the king of the jungle.

This spring has been the worst experience I’ve ever had with the number of cicadas I’ve seen and heard. They are loud and not afraid to land on you. They also can harm younger trees. But cicadas are also probably helpful in more ways than they are annoying.

The benefits of cicadas include:

• Their dead bodies provide food for other creatures (I sure learned this today)
• They prune mature trees and aerate the soil
• Their dead bodies are a source of nitrogen for young trees

The next time we are annoyed by a neighbor, co-worker, or event, perhaps cicadas can teach us something. Just as there are benefits from cicadas, there may also be hidden benefits in other challenges of life. Perhaps we just need to look at the situation differently.

Maybe this challenge you are facing can in some way make your life a little bit better.

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June 3, 2024