Category Archives: Animals

Gotta have it!

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AbundanceThis fall God has been exceedingly generous to the acorn-eating critters in our neighborhood. Though last year there was nary a one, this year it’s been a challenge to walk around the block without skidding out on the marble-like nuts.

With millions of acorns, you’d think the squirrels would be content to-the-max, toting as many as they can hold into their winter nests. But they’ve been after something else, too:

photopumpkins.

Maybe it’s the protein-veggie combo they like, but no pumpkin is safe from their efficient nibbling.

That is, until now.

Last week I finally figured out why one squirrel kept visiting our deck railing. Virtually every day he’d return, looking steadily at the 3 pumpkins atop our picnic table. I couldn’t understand why he didn’t help himself until one day when Mary and I watched together. “He could easily jump over there,” she said. “So why doesn’t he?”

Maybe, because the table is glass, he wasn’t sure it was solid enough to hold him. He tried climbing from below, coming within inches of his prize, but still couldn’t get there.

Almost

Once in a while in our human lives we chase after what seems to be “good fruit,” doing everything in our power to get it. Again and again circumstances keep us from our goal and we get irritated, wondering why we can’t connect with something so special. We might practice perseverance (knowing that’s a good thing) but still fail.

After that we may get angry at God for frustrating our efforts, knowing he could let us have what we wanted if he’d just make a few simple changes. We see our quest as beneficial, a blessing. Never once does it occur to us it might be otherwise. We don’t consider that the circumstances keeping us from our prize might be God-in-disguise, protecting us from disaster.

In our limited understanding, we often don’t see that what looks so good from a distance may lead straight to destruction. Scripture is dotted with examples: Adam and Eve, David and Bathsheba, Jonah, Samson, Judas, and many others. When they ignored God’s warnings and insisted on their own way, catastrophe followed.

So, if we’re going “nuts” trying to get to something we can’t, we might do well to look closely at all that will happen if we do get it. It’s possible we’ll find ourselves thanking God for keeping “success” at bay.

Still trying

As for our pumpkins, on November 27 I plan to carry them to the yard so our persevering squirrel can have his fill. After all, there’s nothing wrong with abundant vegetables on Thanksgiving Day.

“I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. (Psalm 119:59)

Praying with Mary

  1. In going through memorabilia today, I’m aware of the strong spiritual heritage I have and am truly thankful.
  2. Our entire extended family will gather for Thanksgiving in Arkansas where daughter Julia’s family lives. Please pray for strength and energy sufficient to this wonderful time.

 

A Plan B

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Blue JayJust outside the front windows of our Illinois house was a small tree covered with blossoms. One April day years ago, we noticed a bird’s nest tucked in its branches, topped with a mama blue jay, so we began bird-watching from a nearby window, checking every day for babies.

Our cat Kennedy was also watching, and several times I saw her stretching tall from the back of the couch, paws on the window glass, peering out at the mother bird. She had no interest in eggs, though, only what was inside them.

KennedyKennedy had been a rescued kitten given to Hans on his 12th birthday and was puppy-like-friendly but morphed into a hunter every night. In the morning she’d arrive with a gift, a dead mouse, chipmunk, or small bunny dangling from her mouth. None of us liked this side of Kennedy but knew it was nature’s way.

Through the window, we worried about the baby blue jays but hoped their protective mama would keep Kennedy at bay. I remember the day the eggs hatched. We thought the cat was indoors while several of us were perched at the window watching, but suddenly she was there, at the tree.

Hans bolted out the door to grab her, but it was too late. She was already in the branches fighting with the mother blue jay. He raced to the garage and reappeared with a 2×4, shouting and swinging at his beloved pet, desperate to force her down. But within seconds it was all over, and Kennedy had had her way.

All of us were devastated, and my heart went out to the mama bird. She’d been faithful to her task, then was robbed of her reward. Although we were mad at Kennedy, we couldn’t blame her for doing what God had taught her to do.

Sometimes people-lives parallel that of the mama blue jay. We meet our responsibilities, work hard, and do the right things, but disaster strikes anyway. Money is diligently saved, then lost in a recession. A parent pours heart and soul into raising a child, who then turns against her/him. Someone leads a healthy lifestyle but gets sick anyway. A business is built on moral principles but goes bankrupt.

We can’t explain these misfortunes and wonder why bad things happen to good people, especially if “God is good.” But that’s where faith comes in. Do we really believe he’s good, and good to us? If so, we have to trust that even “bad” stuff has “good” purposes.

Bye bye mamaAfter Kennedy destroyed the mama blue jay’s future, I stayed at the window watching her. What would she do now? She sat on the porch railing nearby, focused on the tree, squawking intensely for about 5 minutes. Then she flew off in search of Plan B and never returned.

It’s often excruciating to surrender our A Plans. But when we’re ready, God’s B Plan is ready, too.

“The righteous… do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.” (Psalm 112:6-8)

Sniffing the Road

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FlashlightWhen Jack and I take our late-night walks, sometimes we don’t need a flashlight, but I carry one anyway. If a car approaches, I turn it on and point it toward Jack, since a driver might not see a black dog at night.

Once in a while when it’s time to take our last walk of the day, Jack is already dozing. If he’s been sleeping hard, it takes a few minutes to perk him up, even out in the cold. Some nights he drags behind me as if he’s walking in his sleep.

Sleepy JackLast night was one of those nights, and since it was after 1:00 am, I wanted him to tend to business quickly. Trying to hurry him along, I whistled, then pretended to run ahead.  I even tossed an acorn down the road shouting, “Fetch!” Nothing helped.

Then I got an idea. I turned on the flashlight and pointed it just ahead of my footsteps. The minute I did, he trotted from 20 feet behind me to just in front, walking in the light. If I moved the beam forward, he sped up. If I moved it back, he slowed down, as if he wasn’t sure of his step without seeing it clearly.

I could only conclude Jack doesn’t see very well. Most dogs have a keen sense of smell, #1 among their five senses. Jack walks along sniffing the road, then suddenly pauses to focus for several minutes on one spot, like we might pause in front of a beautiful painting, trying to take it in. For Jack it’s all about his nose.

Since Nate died, sometimes I walk through life just like Jack, head down, “sniffing the road,” unsure of my steps in the dark. But when I do that, opportunities get missed. There are people with eyes, like me, and then there are people with vision. Those with vision can see beyond what their eyes see to what’s happening around them and what’s possible down the road.

Jack doesn’t worry about what he does or doesn’t see, because his well-developed nose compensates for his eyes, but I don’t have that advantage. Thankfully, though, God has perfect senses and is willing to use them for my benefit. He’s also a visionary, so he sees it all, everything that’s hidden in the dark and all the unseen possibilities yet ahead. Much to my relief, he sees me, too, trudging along, “sniffing the road.” Since I can’t “smell opportunity,” I count on him to shine a light on what he wants me to see.

One of my frequent prayers is that his messages will “hit me over the head.” Maybe I should add, “And feel free to do it with a flashlight.”

“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38)