By Ross Pesek

According to Mexican legend, the hummingbird is associated with the spirit of the impeccable warrior and the Aztec God “Huitzilopochtli.” Huitzilopochtli translates to “hummingbird from the south.” The “south” refers to the otherworldly realms that run parallel to the known universe.

Like any lawyer, I graduated from law school having read many books, passed many tests and with a brand-new license “to practice.” With nothing but an earnest desire to earn a living and willingness to mix it up, I stood at the trailhead of life and surveyed the territory. Infinite paths were all around me. I heard taking the path less travelled could make all the difference, so I went my own way to search for justice.

I was full of self-doubt as I began my journey. Quickly, I met others. Since I was a lawyer, they asked me for help finding justice. With uneasiness caused by a realistic assessment of my knowledge but overconfidence born of impressive credentials, I resolved to serve those who needed it most. I served the ones who could not speak the dominant language, had elementary educations, physical or mental disabilities or simply needed basic orientation. These people generally made humble pleas for fairness. I thought, “What could be so hard about that?”

But I was quickly overwhelmed by the opponents of those I served. Turns out, injustice followed my friends like their own shadow. When a bond was decided, my client was presumed guilty and rich despite being innocent and poor. My destitute negligence victims were told, “Just ten years of prior medical records, an inquisition, a few years waiting” and then the insurance company would pay what was due. Most painfully, I saw a families frozen by fear because gangs of plain clothed federal agents seized moms and dads for working by invitation but “illegally.” The family asked, “Will they come back for us?” Day after day, week after week and year after year, I searched for justice.

I began to despair that I would never find justice. What service could I provide in the face of such power? What could I do with mere words? Unlike my opponents, I could never marshal enough might to make myself right. And, I had been learning all along, might may sanction injustice, but it will never leave peace in its wake. I saw by looking in my own heart that only justice can bring peace. I hoped that justice was near, but I still could not see it anywhere.

And then one day I wondered, is there strength in weakness? Upon reflection, I had witnessed another kind of power. I witnessed the quiet fortitude of families ready to demand justice for unwarranted police shootings. I witnessed the personal power of a quadriplegic with the audacity to demand a physical world that accommodates her. I witnessed gratitude for family today by immigrants who knew there was no guarantee of family tomorrow. I witnessed the forgiveness given to those in power by families permanently altered by injustice. In the end, I concluded there is a hidden strength in these moments and in these people just waiting to reveal itself – If I could align myself with it.

Like lightening and in a flash, I had a vision of a path with triangle shaped psychedelic blue tiles that stretched into the distance. It was startling and I took a moment to collect myself. Off to the south, I saw a massive hummingbird radiating power. Somehow, I sensed this was an ally that had come to help those impeccable enough to grasp the strength of weakness. I did not walk the path, I ran. “Finally,” I knew in my heart, “the path to justice!” I continued to run, uphill. Each step on the path was exhilarating and exhausting. The path became narrower and narrower until the path was as thin as the razor’s edge. I kept my balance but just when it seemed I might slip, like a flash and in an instant, the hummingbird pointed it razor sharp beak at injustice, flew with lighting speed and attacked. Before I could do anything, the hummingbird struck injustice and it was transformed into a brilliant golden firework exploding like spiders across the sky.

As suddenly as the vision came, it went. I snapped back into focus. I was in the same world as before. There was confusion, the mighty had fallen to the weak and everyone asked, “What happened?” I explained about the path to justice. But words could not explain. After trying over and over, I realized words could only point the way for the others seeking justice. They would have to find the path to justice themselves.

After the dust settled, I realized something had changed in me and around me. I once again surveyed the paths at the trailhead of life. I saw all the old paths but now I saw parallel psychedelic paths to justice, just to the south of the known ways. My worldly opponents, with all their might, walked the only path they saw. They scoffed at the strength of weakness. Cynically, they denied there was a path to justice at all. But I reassured my clients, “The path to justice is just to the south. Let go of your fear. I have allies you can’t imagine, and we are with you!”