While out with my dog earlier I saw a squashed seagull in the middle of the road. It’s not unusual to see birds that have been run over in my neck of the woods and it always makes me sad, but today I felt powerfully, almost unbearably overcome with emotion.

This poor creature became a victim in the process of doing what was most natural to it – looking for food in any place it could find some. I imagine someone was driving too fast and/or it was too dark and didn’t see it, or maybe they did and didn’t think it mattered.

Every life matters, it doesn’t matter how big or small or seemingly insignificant it is to someone else. It’s true, sometimes we can’t help but kill something in the process of living our lives, but these instances can be the rare exceptions rather than the rule. Within the cycle of life, every life is precious to that life; it is all sacred.

I’m sorry, Seagull. You deserved to live longer and not have your life cruelly cut short. I hope you’re flying free in Spirit, teaching all the other gulls the joy of Being. You have made me think of the famous Jonathan Livingstone Seagull and how he lived his Earthly life teaching himself to fly high for the sheer joy of it, despite the lack of understanding and distain he received from the other gulls. After a life spent in isolation he went to spirit, only to find he wasn’t alone, there was someone just like him, who in fact was even more evolved. Further inspired by his friend, he reincarnated to Earth to teach other gulls.

I hope that, like Jonathan, you have returned to your Spirit home to continue your evolution at whatever stage you’re at. And that maybe you’ll return to teach us all something, someday!