a murmuration of branches
To view this video directly on YouTube, go here: https://youtu.be/FopbgzwODHg
A meditation on Starlings, murmuration, and “I am the pastor and so are you.”
Murmuration: a large group of birds, usually starlings, that all fly together and change direction together, or the act of birds doing this.
One of our favorite sayings at branches is: “I’m the pastor, and so are you.”
It is a reminder that everyone’s thoughts, feelings, and guidance is worthy of inclusion and important to hear. Frequently in a church setting the thoughts of the person up front who doing the speaking are elevated above those of the people listening. At branches we actively avoid this mindset.
But it can be a tricky and surprisingly nuanced concept to wrap our brains around, so with that in mind, consider the Starlings in the video you (hopefully!) just watched and consider the metaphor it is illustrating:
Can you identify a “leader” Starling? Who is in charge here?!
Can you identify the “purpose” of the flock? What is it that they are doing? What are they specifically not doing?
Periodically throughout the video subgroups of Starlings separated from the main flock to fly in different patterns from the main group. At what point do they cease to be a member of the group? Consider as well when subgroups rejoin the main group. Is there a difference between the different groups of birds? Are they all still Starlings?
How do the birds steer themselves?
START HERE: Watch the video as a meditation. As you view it, consider what shows up for you. (The video is available in 4k, so feel free to maximize it and enjoy this amazing display of nature.) Once you are done, read on…