David’s Blog

One of the things I forgot to secure before the hurricane was our hummingbird feeder on the back porch. When we finally got up to watch the howling winds I looked out the back door and there it was swinging back and forth.

Would you believe that Saturday afternoon there were hummingbirds dropping by for a drink!?! Where do they go to wait out a hurricane? What is the safest place in their “house?”

It brought to mind the sovereignty of God and verses about His care of birds of the air and us, Matthew 6:25-27. What a truth to rest in and know that He find such value in you and me.

I’ve had a couple of days this summer where I actually was a rescuer and it made me think about a couple of things. One day it was a hummingbird in our garage that couldn’t seem to get out even with the door up. We would try to “push” it out with our presence but it just kept bumping its head against the ceiling and flutter around. It wouldn’t rest either. The temps outside and humidity keep the heat index near triple digits so I knew it needed to get out. So, I grabbed a long landing net and finally it landed on the net long enough for me to walk out into the yard. The kids got to look at it up close for a couple of minutes as it rested and then it was off.

Next it was a toad. Somehow it had hopped into a backpack that was on the garage floor and was kind of freaking us out  with the rustling sound because we weren’t sure what it was until we could see it. A quick capture and release into the flowerbed and all is right in his world.

Lastly, was a anole or what we call a chameleon lizard. This one was in bad shape. Again he was in the garage (not sure I want to know what may be next) and the heat was incredible. I found him on a shelf and could not tell if he was alive. His skin was a sickly black and gray color instead of its usual vibrant green and its legs were sprawled out unnaturally. I touched him and he barely moved. When I picked him up he squirmed a short little protest. I took him outside and began to run some water from the hose. When it was cool to the touch I dripped a little on him and set him on a branch. He clung to it with all of its strength it seemed. I caught a little more water in my palm and gently poured it on him. He slightly opened his mouth and I guess his body temperature and health came back because he crawled up the crepe myrtle out of sight.

Then, I remember feeling a little hurt. Not one of those animals thanked me! Of course they couldn’t, they don’t talk (maybe the hummingbird winked but I couldn’t see its other eye). Obviously, I thought of our unique relationship with our Creator. We can talk and communicate on such a deep level. Beyond that, He is the ultimate Rescuer and what is my response? Do I just go on with life, whatever/wherever I want or do I respond in a daily, moment by moment life of gratitude? That’s where I want to be and if I’m ever stuck in a spot I can’t get out of, banging my head against the ceiling I want to know God is there and trust that He can rescue me.

As I was completing my hospital visits the other day I found myself staring at the numbers in the elevator wondering what level of the parking garage I parked on. There were almost a dozen choices in as many colors and I couldn’t remember a thing. Do I go with a color that looks good or a number that sounds good?

I used to think that forgetting where one parked was evidence of a senior moment but what now, I’m not 40 (at least not for a few more months)!

So, mentally I backtracked and came up with a color/number combination that seemed like a good starting place. As soon as I stepped off the elevator I recognized an out of state license plate of a nearby car that stood out like a landmark for some reason and there across the aisle was my vehicle.

I guess I’m still such a kid because I ask “why” a lot. So there in that moment I asked myself “why didn’t I remember what level I parked on.” I didn’t like my answer because it meant that I had been too task focused, get out make the visit and get back to the office. It also made me wonder what else did I/do I miss when I get so focused on just getting done and through something that I forget the things of life.  Life is full of incidentals, spontaneous moments and interruptions that should remind us of the real Life. Often it is not the task but the journey that transforms us.

That answer also means I’ve got a little more life left in me yet, too!