The Woodpecker

My office sits in a canopy of trees. I affectionately refer to my playroom as The Treehouse. Over the past many months, the families and I have joyfully noted the comings and goings of many creatures in these trees.

For the past several days, a woodpecker has been aggressively attacking the window. I'm not sure if it is a He or a She. It throws it's whole body against the window, aggressively chatters at it's reflection, and frantically attempts to dig it's talons into the glass. The whole process is unexpected, loud, aggressive and (ultimately for me) sad. For the families in my office, it adds the stress of woodpecker jump-scares to already-exciting narratives about the week.

The families and I laugh about the stress of the violence; nodding to the supremacy of wild things. I wish I could open the window and tell the woodpecker that my window means no harm and comfort him.

I called my Landlord (best guy EVER!) and asked if he knew this woodpecker. Or, if he knew how to help the woodpecker. He explained that woodpeckers are territorial and it probably believes the woodpecker in the reflective glass is an enemy it must attack. We came up with a few solutions to discourage the attacks. None of them are working.

This morning, I decided to do a website search for how to soothe angry woodpeckers. Instead, I learned that a woodpecker pecking at your window is considered to be a powerful spiritual messenger. Apparently, birds are considered to be messengers from The Beyond... and woodpeckers symbolize divine timing and rhythm, persistence and resilience, and breaking through barriers. It is highly fortuitous to have a woodpecker at your window.

Perhaps I missed the meaning when I perceived the creature to be confused, angry, hopeless and misdirected. Perhaps the woodpecker has a commitment and grit and limitless faith I didn't appreciate.

The woodpecker is back at it again today. I think I will explain it's intermittent, explosive, presence to the families a bit differently, for as long as it chooses to visit. And, maybe, we can all borrow a bit of meaning from the woodpecker.