For such a small bird, it had given me a profound personal insight. The flicker's message was timely and one I couldn't ignore.

The heart of presence is not an individual gift. It is shared by those who can sense that magical, mysterious energy and respond.

I’m curious about what makes us an adult and, beyond that, what roles our adult souls play in our evolution?

In that "ah-ha" instant, I embodied the virtue of compassion like I'd never felt compassion before. It pierced my heart and changed me.