Strength in gathering

Not far from our home, there are some high-voltage power lines. I almost always see anywhere from 50 to 100 pigeons lined up on the wires when I drive by. It's impressive to see how they congregate and arrange themselves so nicely, spaced out and sitting quietly as they watch the world go by. I often wonder - why this particular section of wire? Why do they congregate at all?

Many birds are social creatures, I guess - you often see whole flocks of some species (starlings, seagulls, geese) in flight in choreographed unity. Some others, we are more used to see nesting and flying solitary, like robins or eagles.

I've read that the birds do feel a slight warmth generated by the electricity that flows through the wires - maybe more noticeable and significant to them than it would be to us warm-blooded creatures. They don't get electrocuted because they are not grounded (unless they touch two wires simultaneously).

Some suggest birds travel and rest in groups in order to appear more significant to a predator. Others think that a high, unobstructed perch gives them a better view of the surroundings as they search for food, and they all see the same benefit of a given location so tend to end up at the same place.

When I see the birds on the wire, though, I always reflect. How good it is to be around others of our kind! We need each other; we need the support, the warmth, the strength that comes in numbers. We are better collectively than we are individually. By returning to familiar places, familiar settings, with familiar friends, we find security and peace.

Pandemic quarantine rules have been difficult. I suspect most of us have been impacted and hurt more than we realize as we've missed familiar associations, informal gatherings, church meetings, weddings, funerals, dinner parties, neighborhood mingling, and so much more. Our "social distancing" rules can have emotional impact. We are all eager to start recovering.

I #GiveThanks for the blessing of friends, gatherings, fellowship, and the strength and peace they have brought to me in life. Like the birds, I look forward to sitting together again on familiar wires.