DebraJ
Daisy and the Squirrel
This morning I was sitting on the side porch, praying before I began my Bible study. Daisy-kitty was out there with me, and as I watched her explore the flowerbeds I was grateful for this sweet, tranquil time in the early morning garden.
Suddenly, a large squirrel with a very bushy tail leaped from the roof of our house to the trunk of the ash tree, abruptly disrupting the peaceful setting. I think he was expecting to climb down and find his way to our neighbor’s fruit trees. But there I was, intently watching him. And there Daisy was – intrigued, mesmerized by this new attraction!!
Round and round the tree he went, seeking a safe way down and on toward his breakfast trail. Finding nothing that pleased him, he stopped…looking directly at Daisy (who really wasn’t much bigger that he was)…and started flicking his tail in agitation.
And as Daisy and I stared back at him, I could sense the frustration building. And, sure enough, in just a few moments he started his “bark-chatter” to express outwardly his grumbling displeasure.
So the standoff began between cat and squirrel…hunter and hunted…predator and prey.
I so wished I had my cell phone with me to document the drama as it unfolded. But I was out there to pray and study God’s word without interruption…without man-made interruption, that is. What I was witnessing definitely wasn’t man-made.
The standoff continued for several minutes before Mr. Squirrel began scampering up and down and around the tree trunk seeking a way of escape…evaluating and assessing each option. But that only intrigued Daisy more! She began “kitty-chattering” back at the squirrel and moved closer to her newfound playmate…toy…prey!
As I assessed the situation – sizing up Daisy’s LACK of size compared to the squirrel’s girth, I realized there was potential for a not-so-good outcome for either of them. So I tried to “shoo” Daisy back in the house so Mr. Squirrel could continue on his way.
But Daisy would have none of it! She pretended to comply and then quickly darted around me so she could keep her watch, uninterrupted. I moved in closer…and again Daisy darted around me and in closer to Mr. Squirrel…who “bark-chattered” louder and circled around to the other side of the tree trunk. I found it interesting that he didn’t climb higher, just around and away from us. And on and on it went…
What a sight we must have been! There I was, still in my pajamas, robe and slippers chasing Daisy, who was chasing the squirrel!
Finally Daisy ran around to the front of the house and away from Mr. Squirrel in the tree. As I followed her in hot pursuit, I cried, “Run, Mr. Squirrel, run!!”
But he wasn’t yet sure the coast was clear…for he had spied…another squirrel already foraging in the neighbor’s fruit trees! As I kept Daisy away for a few more minutes, he seemed to calm down and his “bark-chattering” ceased.
Soon I returned to my rocking chair on the side porch to continue my time of prayer and Bible study…Daisy returned to her place by my side…and Mr. Squirrel, seeing no way to continue on his chosen path, climbed a bit higher up the tree and leapt back onto our roof. Obviously, he was taking a different path.
Have you ever felt like that squirrel? The plans you’ve made are met by obstacles, people and things that seem certain to thwart those plans, and possibly even harm you. Try, as you might, nothing changes…the obstacles remain…staying the course seems sure to result in loss. You’ve prayed and cried out to God, asking Him to open that pathway…move that mountain…but this time He says, “No. I will provide for you a better way. One that will accomplish My purpose and plan.”
He did that with the early Christians (see Acts 8 and 9). After a time of peace, growth and favor with others, intense persecution began, and many of them were imprisoned and killed for their faith in Jesus Christ.
Before God moved these insurmountable obstacles, the early Christians scattered all over the place…for He had a plan. It was so each of them, wherever they went, would tell people the good news about Jesus…His life, death and resurrection…the good news that all who believe in Him may have life in His name, both now and for eternity!
Maybe that is what God is doing for you, too. Remember, He loves you; He is good and faithful; you can trust Him.
So, several minutes after Mr. Squirrel scampered away I heard a ruckus coming from the back garden area…and suddenly two squirrels ran along the top of the block wall by the fruit trees! Mr. Squirrel was being chased by that other squirrel, which thought the fruit trees belonged to him alone!
No rest today for Mr. Squirrel!
John 16:33 “I (Jesus) have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Unflappable
I was straightening up the front garden the other day, when I heard crows cawing in the distance. I love watching the crows in autumn, when they gather in flocks (technically called a “murder”) in trees, crowing and cawing loudly to each other. They usually gather around nut trees or some other food source, calling for one and all to join in on the feasting festivities. I call it a Crow Party!
So I looked up from what I was doing and scanned the horizon, looking through the tops of trees for the crows. I found them flying just over some of the tallest trees in the neighborhood, but they weren’t exhibiting typical Crow Party behavior. Instead they were flying up and around, darting back and forth at something. Slowly they worked their way above the tree line, and I saw there were about a dozen of them, swooping, darting, crowing loudly, almost angrily at…what?
And then…out of the middle of the pack…soared a hawk, wings outstretched, gliding majestically through the air in breath-taking beauty…crows flying at him, constantly in attack mode. They yelled, cawed, darted, swooped, doing everything they could to intimidate the larger stronger bird…but nothing fazed him. He kept his wings stable and fixed, his eyes somehow able to see an invisible thermal on which he could soar and glide with very little effort…never even taking a single stroke of the wings.
These odd aerial antics continued on…over our house…high above trees…moving slowly to the west…following a course that only the hawk knew to take. Try as they might, the crows’ relentless pursuit would not get him off target. He didn’t let anything deter him from his purpose, which only he and his Creator knew. And with all this taking place around him, the hawk never once flapped his wings.
Undaunted…unfazed…unflappable.
This is how God wants me to live.
Some days feel like I have crows all around me, darting, swooping, doing everything they can to take my eyes off of my Lord. I know I have an enemy that does not want me to focus on Jesus or God’s purpose or will for me, but to be distracted…to focus instead on the problems and challenges that seem to constantly come my way.
But, like this hawk, I need to fix my eyes “not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Like this hawk, I want to run with perseverance the race marked out for me, and fix my eyes on Jesus, who, though unseen, is more real than any unseen thermal or wind current.
Trusting in His presence and power, I too can be undaunted.
Unfazed.
Unflappable.
2 Corinthians 4: 16 – 18
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Parrots in the Persimmon Tree
I was sitting on our side deck finishing up my study of Acts 4, which tells about the lives of the first believers in Jesus, which had been radically transformed. This exciting chapter ends with these believers sharing with each other in incredibly selfless, loving ways – even selling their homes and properties so the proceeds could be used for the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ. This wasn’t required of them, nor had they even been asked to do this; they were so united by the love of Christ Jesus living in them that they just did it!
This definitely is not a normal human behavior! And as I began to ponder what that might have been like, my eyes were drawn to our neighbor’s persimmon tree, with its golden-orange fruit ripening in the sun.
Quite unexpectedly I noticed something red moving up and down in the midst of the green leaves and was delightfully surprised to figure out what it was: our large squawky green parrots were quietly feeding in the persimmon tree! These normally noisy birds moved so slowly, performing a graceful dance, their green bodies camouflaged among the green leaves. Without the red spot on their heads moving up and down as they bent to eat the ripe fruit, they would have completely escaped my notice. But soon I realized there were nearly a dozen of them in this small tree!
The delicate upper branches couldn’t hold more than one parrot at a time, their sharp beaks pecking at the ripe fruit. Hearing movement above me in our ash tree, I soon discovered they had fellow flock-mates waiting quietly…patiently…watching for an opening that would allow them join the feast. When their patience grew thin, they would fly over to the parrot-filled persimmon tree. Angry squawks would erupt as they shoved the others out of the way, taking over their place on the branches by the fruit. As they moved into position, those that had been displaced would fly away. There was absolutely no sharing – it was every man (or parrot) for himself!
Sharing selflessly is not normal behavior among people OR parrots.
Granted, parrots don’t have the ability to reason, but when it comes to us and what we have – houses, cars, food, money in the bank – aren’t we just like them? Oh sure, when we hear of people in need, especially with the recent fires, hurricanes and earthquakes, we’ll send a charitable donation and offer help in tangible ways. But we sure don’t live like those 1st Century believers, selling all of our stuff to provide for others, even within our churches. That was incredible love!
And what’s even more incredible is that God offers to fill us with that same selfless, generous love today. After all, He’s the source of that love and He never changes. So, rather than loving my stuff so much, I’m asking Him to help me love people more…loving with His transforming love…more like those first believers in Jesus.
Jesus, thank You for Your word, which shows me so clearly what You can do in me, if I will only let You. Help me to love things less and people more, as You fill me with power through Your Holy Spirit. And thank You for the parrots in the persimmon tree that helped bring this lesson alive. Amen.