Confirming Cardinals

Recently, I had been feeling the need, post-pandemic, to get out in social environments and to volunteer at a non-profit. As a high school English teacher, my weekends are very full of schoolwork during the school year. However, I have been realizing that I need a bit of balance in my life – and to get away from my desk and computer on weekends.

You probably know someone who has cardinals as one of their personal symbols since cardinals are one of the most universal signs. It has been said that when “cardinals appear, a loved one is near.” This is especially comforting to those who have had loved ones pass. In another sense, cardinals also represent perseverance (the red, male cardinals) and following your intuition/your gut (the light, female cardinals.) 

For weeks, I posed the question to friends: where do you think I should volunteer? The consensus was at a place involved with history (which I love and also teach in academic support) and in nearby New York City. The next question was: exactly where should I throw my hat into the ring, with my limited time resources? Hmmm…hard decision since there are so many possibilities in NYC. 

To try to solve this conundrum, my friend Sahrena and I had one day planned to go into NYC and explore a particular historical museum to see if it’d be a good fit for me to volunteer. However, we discovered at the last minute that the museum was closed that day. I started thinking: what kinds of things did I used to love doing when I had time, prior to teaching? Right away, I knew it: I love being on any kind of boat or vessel since I wrote about cruise ships for 20 years prior to teaching. So I searched maritime museums in NYC and immediately “knew” which one to pick. We visited it that day, I submitted a very detailed application to be a volunteer, had a great interview and I am about to start training in order to be an exhibit educator for two weekend afternoons a month. 

And, as you might guess, after I got off the phone with the interviewer and went to do errands, I got a sign. A male cardinal was literally sitting in the road in front of my car and followed the side of my car for two blocks! Whether it was a sign to continue to persevere in finding balance in my life or a sign from my deceased father who was in the Navy during the Korean War and loved anything maritime-related, I don’t know. But I do know that the Universe was saying “anchors aweigh…here’s wishing you a happy voyage home!” (lyrics from the Navy song “Anchors Aweigh“)

For there is “no coincidence” when it comes to the wisdom that personal symbols can provide us all.