Blue is known as the ‘sad’ color. But when I see the ocean, all of my sorrow is washed away.
Pop, Pennies, and Blue Feathers… It’s been that kind of day. If you’ve been following my journey through my previous essays, you’ll know the significance I attach to finding pennies and the profound meanings they hold for me.
Today is Friday, finally, and I have about 8 patients to see as part of my work with a traveling doctor’s office. Among them is a woman who has been through the unimaginable pain of losing her son to gun violence. He was just 19 years old, and the trauma of his loss is palpable as soon as I meet her.
Grief, especially the loss of a child, cuts through one’s being like a jagged knife, leaving a chasm of agony. As I speak with her, her pain becomes almost tangible. Yet, amid her anguish, there’s something else: a sense of connection, of longing. She tells me of experiences that feel inexplicable — scents, sights, and sounds that remind her of her son’s presence, despite his physical absence.
In that moment, I feel a surge of joy because I recognize these experiences. I know the comfort they bring, the reassurance they offer. So, I share with her my own encounters with the mystical — the magic of finding pennies and feathers, the serendipitous events that have shaped my belief in the unseen.
Despite the demands of my schedule, I linger a little longer with her, offering words of understanding and a comforting embrace. They say a hug lasting just 20 seconds can transmit love and positive energy; I double dose her with it.
The remainder of my day unfolds without incident, until I return to Beaufort. As I pull into the Walmart parking lot, a peculiar sensation washes over me — a feeling, almost like a whisper in my mind. And then, with startling clarity, I know: I’m about to encounter Lorick’s father, whom I affectionately call Pop.
Sure enough, as I step out of my car, a penny glints up at me from the ground, a silent confirmation of what I already sensed. And there he is, disoriented and masked, searching for his parked car. In that moment, I’m filled with gratitude — for this serendipitous encounter orchestrated, it seems, by Lorick himself.
We chat for a while, and as I bid Pop farewell, I can’t help but marvel at the intricacies of the universe’s design.
Finally home, I release my dogs into the yard, only to be greeted by a sight that takes my breath away: a single blue feather, resting at my feet. It’s a stunning reminder of the spiritual truths that govern our lives, of the connections that transcend the physical realm.
In many cultures, blue feathers hold deep significance. In biblical contexts, blue symbolizes divinity and divine revelation, while in Native American traditions, it represents intuition and wisdom.
Today, I not only helped a grieving mother open her mind to the spiritual presence of her beloved son but also received three poignant signs of my own.
Indeed, it’s been that kind of day — one filled with sorrow, yes, but also with moments of connection, of magic, and of profound spiritual truth. And as I reflect on it all, I’m reminded once again of the beauty and mystery that lie just beyond the veil of our everyday existence.
The Dish by Deni 
2 responses to “Pop, Pennies and Blue Feathers.”
Great post! God is clearly involved with comforting us by orchestrating these encounters with others. It is something only an omniscient, omipresent, and omnipotent being can do.
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Great post! God is clearly involved with comforting us by orchestrating these encounters with others. It is something only an omniscient, omipresent, and omnipotent being can do.
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