Tonight, as the sun began to sink behind the prairie, I felt that familiar pull in my spirit—the kind that says, just go.
So I followed a gravel road into the golden hour with no plan, no expectation. Just me, my camera, and a heart wide open to wonder.
The first gift of the evening appeared perched on a fence post—a large brown raptor, mottled and magnificent. I thought maybe it was a hawk, and sure enough, after snapping a few pictures and checking my bird app, it was confirmed: a juvenile red-tailed hawk.
No red tail yet—just the markings of something still becoming.
It let me come surprisingly close before lifting off with a grace that felt sacred. Like it knew its place in the sky was never in question.
And maybe that’s the message I needed: You don’t have to be fully formed to fly.
A little farther down the road, I pulled over to take in the sunset filtering through the trees. That’s when I heard it—an echoing screech, rhythmic and raw, calling out into the fading light. I paused, listened, and checked again: Great Horned Owl.
Though I never saw him, I could feel him. The sound stirred something ancient in me.
That owl kept calling for minutes on end. Loud. Persistent. Unafraid. It was like he was asking me, Will you listen to the voice that comes in the dark?
And then—cows. Soft, curious, calm-eyed. Watching me with quiet interest.
And a little further on—horses, grazing peacefully beneath a cotton candy sky.
Everything was still. Everything was speaking.
🪶 Symbolism & Scripture
The Hawk
Messenger of vision, clarity, and perspective.
It sees the bigger picture and reminds us to rise above fear, to trust the unfolding path.
The Owl
Symbol of intuition, night wisdom, and hidden guidance.
It invites us to listen deeply, even in the dark, and trust what we can’t yet see.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.”
— Isaiah 40:31
🌙 Whispers in the Wind
Some evenings feel like God whispering,
“I’m here—in the wings, the wind, and the wonder.”
📓 Journaling Invitation
What message might God be sending you through these wild messengers?
Where in your life are you being asked to trust without seeing?
When was the last time you listened closely to what the silence—or the screech—was saying?
Which part of nature speaks most deeply to your soul right now?
I drove home under a sky splashed with pink and fire, heart full and soul stilled. I may not have all the answers—but I know this:
God still speaks. Through feathers, through shadows, through golden hour light.
And tonight, I listened.
Leave a Reply