The next best thing

When it comes to modern-day technology, I think it's safe to say we almost always identify the negative things about it before the positive. The time-wasting temptations, the endless YouTube marathons, the addicting things like Pinterest and Tumblr, etc. I acknowledge all of it, and perceive it as a major, major problem for the majority of people today. But something we have to remember is that internet and technology is not all evil, or addictive, or disastrous to our learning and creativity. In fact, there are things out there that help us learn, be creative, spread ideas, discuss great things, and ultimately, grow as people.

Eaglecrest  is a live stream of wild birds and their nests in Prather, California. I saw an ad for it in my February 2013 issue of National Geographic, looked it up, and was sufficiently amazed. I started to watch a live stream of a Barn Owl (er, I think it was a Barn Owl...) perched in her nest. She had a perfectly heart-shaped face, a snowy-white complexion and talons as long as my fingers and sharper than every knife in my kitchen. Her eyes were huge and they moved and squinted and widened at every little thing. She was alive, she was absolutely beautiful, and I had the privilege of watching her, as she was, as she breathed, at the exact minute.

On the side of the live stream there was a chatbox, full of people I'll never recognize or meet. Though, once I joined the stream, they greeted me in text, knowing me only by username, and then we proceeded to discuss this bird (whom I took the liberty of naming Molly). It was honestly a really extraordinary thing. These people only appeared to be words on a screen, though I understood them as people. I wondered what their passions were. I wondered why they had the patience to sit and watch a bird, like I did. I had no idea about their personal lives, yet, there I sat, observing one of God's unique and beautiful creatures with diverse people.

On top of it all, I could hear things on Molly's side of the video. Natural things. Frogs chirping, thunder rolling, and other birds communicating. It was music that I didn't have here and could only get through the power of internet.

This is what we can do. These are experiences we can provide. This is how technology can teach us and open our minds and hearts to a diverse and beautiful world. We may not be able to pick up and leave for an adventure right now, but we can do the next best thing--use our resources to connect and get inspired.

http://www.ustream.tv/eaglecresthawks