One late afternoon a woman entered the Pickering House carrying two grocery bags filled with a variety of items. She told me she was returning the left over supplies we had given her to care for her mother whom she had been caring for at home. As she walked across the reception area she glanced to her left, looking out the window and stopped without saying a word. She was quiet for a moment, staring out the window at the bird feeder in front of Room 1.
Breaking her stare, she approached me at the reception desk. She told me that before she passed, her mom had stayed at the Pickering House in Room 1 for a short respite stay. She told me how important the bird feeder was to her mom, saying that her mom watched the birds every day from morning until after dinner.
“Then the deer would come over and clean the feeders out.” She added smiling.
Her mom said that watching the birds gave her peace and helped her sleep at night. It became obvious that bird feeder was calming the daughter even now as she watched the birds flutter around the feeder waiting for their turn.
When the Pickering House opened in the Spring of 2007 there was one bird feeder in the front yard. That single bird feeder became a focal point almost immediately. Those temporarily being cared for at the Pickering House, as well as the visitors and even our staff enjoyed watching them. And I think that it was more than enjoying it, as there seemed to be a need to watch them. So many commented on the feeders with the overriding theme being that after only a few minutes of gazing their stress seemed to fly way. Sometimes people would sit in the lobby of the Pickering House and just gaze at the birds; Deep in thought.
Realizing the obvious importance of the feeder to everyone at the Pickering House, one of our volunteers, Jason, brought up the idea of a bird feeder outside of every room. Soon, they were bought and set up within a few feet of each window in the 12 room facility. Each bird feeder is in easy sight of the person lying in bed and close enough so that chirping can be heard.
It can’t be emphasized enough that the natural conclusion of someone’s life involves peace. It involves silence. And it involves spirituality. Mother Teresa said, “God cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…”
Who would have thought that, those many years ago, when Jason’s idea of putting a bird feeder in front of each window was accepted that it would have such a positive effect on so many people for such a long time? After all, it’s just a bird feeder.
