The Wisdom of the Shoebill: Embracing Stillness, Solitude, and Divine Timing
By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
There’s something mesmerizing about the shoebill stork, a bird that seems like it walked out of a mythical tale. Its appearance alone a beak that looks almost too large for its face and eyes that seem to pierce through the air gives it a commanding presence. And yet, beneath that odd exterior is a lesson that speaks volumes to the human experience. It’s almost as if the shoebill is a reflection of ourselves, embodying the patience, stillness, and hidden depth we often carry within us, though most may never notice.
The shoebill stands perfectly still for what feels like ages, waiting, watching, biding its time. And doesn't that remind you of life? How often do we find ourselves in those in-between moments, stuck in the waiting room of our own existence, unsure of when or how things will move forward? We grow impatient, frustrated even, as we wait for that next job, relationship, or breakthrough. Yet, much like the shoebill, the waiting is often where the magic happens. It’s in those still moments that we learn to trust something greater than ourselves a sense of divine timing that often feels elusive but, in hindsight, is always right on time.
You know, the shoebill could be a symbol for those times when life feels a little stagnant, like we’re all dressed up with nowhere to go. But instead of pacing back and forth, the bird just stands there, in complete trust that its moment will come. There’s no rushing, no frantic energy. It’s as if the shoebill understands something we struggle with sometimes, doing nothing is doing everything. Patience, after all, is a virtue that doesn’t come easy. But when you see that giant bird standing still, not a feather out of place, you can't help but wonder if it knows something we don’t. Maybe it’s whispering to us, "Relax, your time will come."
And then there’s its solitary nature. The shoebill doesn’t need an entourage, doesn’t seek approval from its peers it just does its own thing. There’s something deeply spiritual about that. In a world that constantly pushes us to be seen, to be validated, to perform for others, the shoebill teaches us the power of solitude. It’s in those moments of being alone that we truly connect with the Creator, when all the noise and expectations fall away, and it’s just us and the Divine.
I can’t help but think of the times I’ve had to step away from the crowd, from the busyness of life, and just be. Not because I wanted to, but because I needed to. There’s this sacredness in being alone, a space where we can hear the whispers of something bigger than ourselves. And let’s face it, we’ve all had those moments where we just want to be left alone, standing still like a shoebill, waiting for the world to figure itself out.
Of course, life isn’t all stillness. When the shoebill does move, it moves with purpose. No hesitation, no second-guessing it knows when the time is right and strikes with precision. There’s a beauty in that, too, isn’t there? The ability to act with confidence after a period of waiting. We often spend so much time doubting ourselves, unsure if we’re making the right move. But when you’ve spent enough time being still, you learn to trust your instincts, to trust that the steps you’re about to take are guided by something greater. And when you finally move, it feels right, as if the universe itself is nodding in approval.
You ever notice how people say “timing is everything,” like it’s a throwaway phrase? But the shoebill lives it. Its movements are a masterclass in divine timing. Watching that bird go about its business is a reminder that our steps, too, are ordered, even when it feels like we’re walking in circles or standing in place. There’s something quite liberating in realizing that, in the grand scheme of things, we don’t always need to have everything figured out. Sometimes, we just need to wait, to be still, and to trust that our moment will come.
But let’s not ignore the fact that the shoebill, for all its grace, looks pretty ridiculous at first glance. And isn’t that just like us, too? We often feel like we don’t quite fit, like we’re out of place or not as polished as we’d like to be. But if the shoebill teaches us anything, it’s that you don’t have to be conventionally beautiful or follow the crowd to be powerful, to make an impact. In fact, it’s precisely its oddness that makes it stand out, that gives it its charm. Maybe the shoebill is nudging us to embrace our own quirks, to stop trying to fit into molds that were never meant for us.
I remember once, during a particularly rough patch in life, feeling completely out of place like a shoebill in a room full of flamingos. I wasn’t moving at the pace everyone else seemed to be moving at, and it felt like I was stuck in this endless cycle of waiting. But eventually, things shifted, not because I forced them to, but because I learned to trust that my journey had its own rhythm. Much like the shoebill, I had to learn the art of patience, the beauty of standing still, and the power that comes from waiting for the right moment to move.
And let’s not forget the humor in it all. I mean, the shoebill looks like it could be auditioning for a prehistoric documentary, yet it’s thriving in its own right. Sometimes, life throws us into situations where we feel completely out of place, but that’s part of the journey. The Creator has a way of using our most awkward, out-of-the-box moments to show us something deeper about ourselves. So, when life makes you feel like you’ve got a giant, awkward beak for no apparent reason, remember that even the shoebill’s quirks serve a purpose. Maybe, just maybe, your oddities are exactly what the world needs.
In the end, the shoebill stork is more than just a bird it’s a reminder to be patient, to trust the waiting, and to embrace the beauty of moving when the time is right. It’s a lesson in solitude, in standing firm in who we are, and in knowing that even in our stillness, something profound is happening. So the next time you find yourself feeling stuck or out of place, just think of the shoebill. Stand tall, embrace your quirks, and trust that your moment will come when it’s meant to. And when it does, move with the same grace and purpose as that seemingly awkward, yet deeply wise, bird.
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