SOUL ISSUES:

Why Peacocks Honk (A story of love) 

By Reverend Liz Petipren 

When I was growing up in the State of MI my family owned a summer home in the country where we spent most of our summers. One morning a pair of peacocks showed up at the back door of our home and adopted us. We had no idea where they came from. The two were a mated pair, a peacock and peahen, inseparable, never more than a few feet apart. The two were quiet, curious, and gorgeous to behold, so we decided to let them stay. We named them Romeo and Juliet.

One afternoon I walked out onto the back porch and startled Juliet. Flustered, she flew to the other side of the house, out of Romeo’s sight. Suddenly she began to honk loudly, and Romeo responded. Separated, the two tried to locate each other by calling to each other repeatedly. The honking went on for about 20 minutes until Juliet found her way around the back of the house and they had a glorious reunion.

Today, looking back on this episode and what it has taught me is a supreme lesson about love and relationships. The natural state of these two birds is togetherness, or intimacy.  When they got separated, they were out of their natural state, and the honking began. They were each calling to their beloved.

When you feel lonely, separate, or outside of love, your pain and what you do in pain is your honking to be reunited with your beloved. Likewise for those who honk to you. What we do from joy expresses love; what we do from fear calls for love.

We have all been separated from God, love, and ourselves. In truth, we are not separate at all, but we feel that way. Our searching and reaching out is our honking to be reunited. We just want to go home, and until we get there, we will keep honking.

If you have a valentine, honk to get a little closer. If you do not have one, honk to get a little closer to yourself. The wonderful thing about love is that you can shine it at anyone or anything, including yourself. 

When you do, the honks stop and the great reunion begins.

Affirmation: “I recognize the call for love, and I give love as the answer.”