The One-Legged Sandpiper

I saw a one-legged Sandpiper today on the beach. I saw him land on his single pedestal, it was an artful thing. Entranced by his disability, I stood transfixed with curiosity. I so wanted to help him but we're worlds apart. How can he feed? How can he fend? Suddenly, he flew away up the beach, I followed him. There he stood lightly wafting in the wind, still balanced on that single leg. His fellow Sandpipers scurry about unnoticing his remarkable challenge. Later, a kindly friend told me shorebirds often hide one leg to conserve energy. Silly, I felt a loss for my misplaced empathy towards my one-legged friend. What a self-centered bubble I live in. We're always so troubled by what we think we know. Truth is, we know so little. Next time on the beach, I'll look for the one-legged Sandpiper. It'll remind me that there's so much I still don't know.