I pulled up to the light at Henderson and Bukit Merah behind a small red company van. The van was perfect, polished and not a scratch in sight. As I sat on a motorcycle under the shade of the tree, my mind and gaze wandered.
Two mynas caught my eye. They were in the shade next to van’s front tire. The idea that resting on a busy street next to a tire that could run over them made this a weird scene at best. As I watched, it all began to make sense. The mynas were eating something on the tire. More than just tire sidewall, the braver of the two was moving around in front of the tire cleaning out the wonderful gems found buried in the tread.
It was strange to share the moment with the birds. I imagined the tire moving without notice, wondering if the myna would escape. It has been a while since I have been able to watch two birds thoroughly enjoying themselves. As they chatted with each other, they indulged in a wonderful surprise snack. I had no idea what attracted them to this particular van and tire. Could they smell something? Did one of them spot something and the other follow? Whatever the reason, they were enjoying themselves! I laughed and watched, wondering if anyone would believe my account of the story.
I find myself replaying the scene with a quiet chuckle. When one witnesses anyone, even a bird in a sweet spot, it is wonderful experience in the making. I wonder what would create this for others. A writer left us with an observation; “For God, this is better than oxen on the altar, far better than blue-ribbon bulls.” (Psalm 69.31) I wonder what this looks like today. If the mynas are an indication, then the following are indicators.
Sweet spots occur when you least expect it.
Just because it is not the norm, one should never conclude that there is no room for fun.
Danger is everywhere. It does not need to dictate the possible.
