I recently met up with an old friend to go canoeing. It had been about a year since we had seen each other. The last time we got together we hiked a bluff overlooking the Mississippi river. He endured the hills better than I did, but there was no competition. I was thrilled to watch him keep a faster pace than me. On that particular day, he was three months post transplant from receiving a heart. His new heart was working wonderfully and I was excited to see him in action.
Jon and I have known each other since middle school. We hadn’t kept in close contact over the years, however, around the time my Ben was called Home to the Heavenly realm, he became sick and would soon learn he needed a heart transplant. A unique, mutual understanding was born between us. We have stayed in touch on a more regular basis since then.
On this day, Jon was now twenty-seven months post transplant. He had recently met his donor’s friends and family and I was anxious to hear all about it. I hopped in his canoe on a small lake adjacent to the Mississippi River. It was in the city but off the beaten path enough to make you feel like you weren’t. Within two minutes of being on the water, a bald eagle flew over. I pointed it out to Jon and said, “Look, we’re getting a fly over.” He smiled and commented that it didn’t take long for that to happen.
It was a sign.
If you ask most people who have lost someone close to them, they will tell you they have a sign. A sign that unmistakably comes from that person. There are common signs among us; butterflies, dragonflies, bald eagles, lady bugs, hawks, hearts, sunflowers, feathers, falling stars, etc. There are also those of us who feel drawn to a specific animal and they will show up at times when we may be feeling emotional about something we’re experiencing - happy or sad. Jon and I have had conversations about bald eagles and how they are drawn to him.
Not long after the bald eagle flyover, I noticed there were damselflies all around. To better converse while in the canoe, we were facing each other. I watched as these sweet, smaller versions of dragon flies were landing on Jon’s hat, on the sides of the canoe, on my paddle and then on my arms and legs. After a few minutes, Jon noticed too. They were everywhere. We laughed and admitted that neither one of us had experienced anything like this. Jon tried to blame it on me and me on him, both saying we were personally attracting them. Their presence could not be ignored, especially after one landed on my eye and stayed for a bit. Signs.
Jon shared the details of meeting his heart donor’s friends and family with me. I think it’s safe to say this is a rare conversation for two people to have. I listened intently. I was delighted to hear Jon’s gratitude, knowing how deep and intentional his sense of appreciation for life is. When he was finished, he asked me what was going through my mind? Any thoughts I wanted to share? I told him I was happy to be in the company of someone whose life was as surreal as mine. It can be a lonely existence when things often happen that most people don’t understand or see or feel in the same way.
After being on the water for about an hour, we noticed a bald eagle flying over the tree tops near the shore. It was whistling the recognizable screech we both know.
We smiled (again) at its presence. Almost immediately, three more appeared from the direction of the river. There were now four bald eagles flying above us. We were in awe. What a wonderful gift of nature to witness, especially in the city! I wondered out loud why there were four of them? Jon didn’t hesitate to make the observation that we could say there were actually four of us present: him and I, and two heart donor’s, my son and his donor. Signs. Signs.
A few days later I was in northern Minnesota to participate in the installation of a flagpole to honor Ben at a military camp for veterans and gold star families. The process of digging a hole big enough to contain a twenty-foot flagpole takes a while. I took a walk with the wife of the gentleman who founded the non-profit (with her), making this day possible. As we were approaching the path that went back up to the property, a bald eagle flew low over our heads directly towards the place in the yard where the flagpole would soon stand tall. We stood in silence, staring in disbelief at how close it was. We both agreed it was a sign.
We took a break when lunch was served. I chose a seat on a deck that was away from the rest of the people there. I was seeking the sun and sat for a couple minutes by myself. A giant, colorful dragonfly landed on a deck rail close to me. I commented on how beautiful it was and reached for my phone to take a picture. It flew off. I was grateful it showed up but was bummed-out that I would have to settle for the picture I took in my mind.
When the flag was raised a short time later, another large dragonfly flew past. Was it the same one I had seen on the deck? One of ladies immediately pointed out that there was a big dragonfly on the flag. I looked up in awe. There it was planted right on a stripe of that glorious red, white and blue. This time I captured a couple photos. It stayed in place for awhile. In fact, I never saw it fly away. Hello sign.
The flagpole was raised at Camp Bliss, which is about four hours north of where I live. My dad was my travel companion. We enjoyed the winding country roads in and out of small towns. We passed by a sign for a city called Leader. There was no population posted. I turned around so I could take a picture. Apparently, this town of Leader was not even “unincorporated”, a common title of towns with few residents. This one had none? I looked it up and discovered there are seven known people that call Leader home. Attached to the sign was another sign identifying Leader as a community that supported the Lions Club. There were two lion heads on a circular sign that said “Lions International”.
My tag line for my website is Leader, Motivator, Connector. The lion is an animal that I have long been drawn to. I recently got to kiss a beautiful taxidermy of a male African lion. I had tears in my eyes when I did. I have always wanted to touch a lion, didn’t know that I ever would. Even if it was stuffed, it was magical. I had no idea there was a city in Minnesota called Leader. Signs, Signs.
Before Jon and I pulled the canoe off that lake, we spotted one of the bald eagles (or perhaps a fifth one) perched high on an electrical pole next to the shore. On our way home, my dad and I stopped at the Eagles Healing Nest for an event. Signs.
Ben’s flagpole will remain a fixture at Camp Bliss for many years to come. Please check out the websites for them and Flags for Fallen Military (they installed it) to see the wonderful work they do.
https://flagsforfallenmilitary.org/heroes/
https://www.facebook.com/FlagsForFallenMilitary/
Once you believe, signs are everywhere. Believe and you will receive.
This is beautiful!!! I love this story!!! Thanks for sharing it!!!