Coyotes, crows and crayons. How does such a combination fit together? It is in Laguna Woods Village.
“Crayons?” you ask? Well, maybe we don’t all have those coloring sets, but Crayola has produced a box of 32 colors. All flesh tones. They call it “Colors of the World.” Mother Nature has bestowed upon us a spectrum of pigments, each as unique as the individual it adorns.
We might call this a place where the colors of the world come together. Not only in the colors of our skin but in the richness of trees, bushes and flowers that come from around the world.
But what about crows and coyotes? They certainly are not colorful. Well, we do live together.
Crows glide around our sky, noisily calling to each other. As the sun begins to fade, the crows head home, and it is then that we may encounter a coyote in our own urban neighborhood.
Although we may not be able to understand their communication, the caws and calls of the crows form a symphony of connection, a language of rhythm and tone that speaks of camaraderie and caution.
The yips and howls of the coyotes have meaning of their own. It is a language of gestures and vocalizations conveying warnings, greetings and tales of the hunt.
With our ingenuity and complexity, humans occupy a unique space within the intricacy of nature. We share a kinship with crows and coyotes and all different forms of life because of our ability to communicate and adapt.
While humans may not possess the same natural camouflage as coyotes, we have developed languages, cultures and technologies that enable us to thrive in diverse environments.
From the bustling cities to the remote wilderness, we navigate our surroundings using a complex web of verbal and nonverbal communication, yet beneath the surface, we are all bound by the common threads of humanity.
Beyond the hues that distinguish us, we share the same beating hearts, the same hopes and the same aspirations for a better tomorrow. Across continents and cultures, we laugh, we love and we cry, weaving a collective tapestry of joy and sorrow that transcends the boundaries of race and ethnicity.
It is through embracing our differences and honoring our common humanity that we can truly appreciate the masterpiece that is the human experience. Let us celebrate the kaleidoscope of human flesh colors, recognizing that we are all part of one creation – different but the same.
For it is in acknowledging our diversity that we find beauty, in our unity we find strength, and in our relationship with all life we truly allow the colors of the world to shine.
The Rev. Linda McNamar is a Laguna Woods Village resident.
