Message from the Sea

Bundled in a robe, I sat on our balcony. Below me, gentle waves wrinkled the ocean. My head bowed. I tried to pray, but my mind wandered. Listen. Waves sang a song of crescendos and decrescendos. A constant rhythm sounded as the ship sliced through the water. With many activities onboard, I had blocked out the sounds of the waves which became only comfortable background noise. Easy to ignore. I’ve done the same thing with God’s voice. Familiar. Comforting. But easy to ignore in favor of louder, more insistent problems and activities. The gentle sway of the ship, soothing waves, and endless expanse reminded me of God. He holds, rocks, and whispers. My part is to listen. Proverbs 19:20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Dear Lord, help me be quiet and listen to your still, small voice. Amen

Sanctuary

Wrapped in a red plaid Masai cloth over my fuzzy robe, I shivered. The crisp morning contrasted with recent warm temperatures. As the sun woke, my wicker chair rocked. Bird-feeder games commenced. Numerous birds vied for position. Resident cardinals shared breakfast. His vibrant scarlet and her muted gold formed a perfect couple. They snatched seeds and then dropped to the ground under the oak where they hopped and snacked. A brilliant blue jay snatched a seed from the feeder and zoomed back to the pine to eat it. Back and forth he went. His ample body prevented him from perching on the ledge. Tap. Tap. A red headed woodpecker rapped on the pine. Then he swung to the feeder and hung below it. Seeds rolled into his beak. Though too large, like the blue jay, his ingenuity helped him plan a way to obtain seeds. In a flurry birds hustled back and forth from the trees to the feeder. My head swiveled, trying to keep up with them. How could the wood pecker go so fast? Then I realized there were two which was a rarity in my garden. More birds joined the flock. Brown finches hopped and tweeted through my herb garden. A gray dove waddled through the spider plants. A smaller blue jay rocked the feeder but was able to actually eat there. Ducks hit that water like seaplanes. After his morning swim, a dark snakebird spread his wings to dry. Gleaming in the sunlight, a great white egret glided like the space shuttle across the lake and landed nearby. Though weary, I had gathered my Bible, books, paper, and tea to venture into the chilly morning. Flowers bloomed. Birds sang. Leaves rustled. Waves rippled, and sunlight sparkled. My private sanctuary calmed and refreshed me after a restless night. What a delightful reward. Taking time to enjoy God’s creation prepared me for the day. Energy returned. If I had stayed comfortable inside, I’d have missed the lovely gift. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11: 28-29 Creator, thank you for your beautiful creation. Help me to take time to enjoy it and learn from it. Amen

Where Did They Go?

A week passed. Each day I searched the lake. Mallards skimmed the water. Brown and white ducks paraded by. A black duck waddled to the feeder. But the large, white mother duck had disappeared.

Even with the telescope, there was no evidence of her or her brood. Eggshells and errant feathers that littered the area near her nest had vanished too. Nothing remained but memories.

I yearned to watch the growth of the ducklings and laugh at their antics. That didn’t happen. I hoped they found residence somewhere on the lake in a safe, sheltered spot. They didn’t leave an address or even wave goodbye.

Over the years, people have enriched my life and left much as the ducks did. Circumstances disrupt. Lives change. People move on. Some are left behind.

It is easy to lament the changes and yearn for what is gone. Perhaps a spouse, children, friends, health, jobs, money, prestige ...

Living in the past and bewailing what is lost, prevents enjoying the present and looking forward to the future. Nothing will be exactly the same, but opportunities come to replace what has been taken. Each person has special gifts and a purpose to be fulfilled.


“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your path.” Proverbs3:5-6

Dear Lord, help us accept changes and open our eyes to opportunities. Amen

More and More

Shell fragments tumbled down the bank. Flakes of white down sprinkled the dirt like snow.

Mother duck’s dedicated waiting proved fruitful. Saturday morning only two teeny heads appeared in the nest across the lake. Early Easter morning I stared through the telescope aimed at the nest.

Bobbing heads and twisting bodies made it impossible to get an accurate count. After trying and trying, I finally gave up at nine fuzzy newborns.

That afternoon when I arrived home from church, I peered through the telescope again hoping to get a better count. That didn’t happen. Mother duck sat protectively over all of her offspring. Perhaps it was nap time.

Just after dawn on Monday, I gazed at the nest. Two tiny heads peeked out from under their mother. More feathers littered the bank. I hoped the hawk hadn’t left remnants of a tasty snack.

The sun rose in the sky. A glance toward the nest told me she had left. What kind of mother was she? When I looked through the telescope. A surprise treat awaited. As mother duck ambled along the shoreline, a kite tail of fluff balls waved behind her.

The adorable creatures tumbled over each other as they tried to keep up. She never looked back but assumed they were following. The mass of brown and yellow became more orderly and formed a wiggly line.

When the walking lesson finished, she slid into the lake. With no hesitation or apparent fear, they mimicked her and effortlessly skimmed the water.

Until that time my attempts to count had been difficult. The line would give me a chance to do it. Wrong. They still wobbled and twitched like an old time movie. As if a magnet pulled them along, they continued to follow the leader. Finally as the line lengthened, I counted at least a dozen ducklings. Amazing.

Down the lake she went with her brood. Close to shore but still vulnerable to dangerous predators.

Even though chances of all surviving to adulthood are extremely slim, she doesn’t keep them contained to the nest. Instinctively, she knows they must be trained to swim, get food, and avoid possible dangers. When that is done, she must release them.

More lessons from nature. Prepare and wait expectantly for the birth of children. Train them to make it in the world on their own. Then let them go.

No matter the stage of parenthood, it is difficult. Using God’s instruction book, The Bible, and lots of prayers makes the journey easier.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Father, thank you for children. Give us strength and wisdom to teach and to let go. Amen

Watchful Waiting

For over three weeks, she sat and waited. Only occasionally did she even move from her spot. Dedicated. Persistent. Unwavering.

Alan and I watched and waited with her. Each time we walked by the window or were in the yard, we looked across the lake. Binoculars sat ready for viewing. Alan even set up our telescope for a closer look.

I googled the time for eggs to hatch. The average was twenty-eight days, and she was getting close.

On Saturday morning before Easter, Alan called me. “There’s a little head.”

Through the telescope we could see a tiny yellow and black head. Then another. Mother duck gently fluffed their down. Were there more in the nest? We couldn’t see.

How appropriate that they would hatch near Easter. After a long period of watchful waiting, new life emerged.

Watchful waiting after Jesus’ death, revealed a risen Lord. He is risen indeed.

Dear Lord, thank you for the risen Jesus. Amen

Small Players

Bit actors in a gigantic production. None yelled for recognition but all played significant roles. Events changed lives. How many believed?

Mobs of people crowded the city for Passover. Narrow streets teemed with pilgrims arriving to celebrate the yearly feast.

Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.” (NIV)

The owner quickly agreed to allow thirteen men to eat in his home. Did he and his servants know who was visiting? Did they realize the significance of that last meal?

And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after supper he took the cup saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (NIV)

Food they had prepared became holy in Jesus’ hands. Overhearing His words, like the disciples, they questioned. What did He mean?

After the resurrection, they would certainly know they had entertained the Savior. Did they believe and follow Him?

Later that night in the Garden of Gethsemane, soldiers accompanied by religious leaders interrupted the quiet. Ignoring Jesus’ calmness, Peter impulsively drew his sword. Malchus, the high priest’s servant, with one swipe lost his ear. Blood dripped. In agony, he watched with amazement as Jesus lovingly reattached his ear.

In spite of being betrayed, arrested, and facing death, Jesus stopped to perform another miracle. Did anyone else notice? Malchus had to be changed. Did he believe?

Later that night, Peter warmed himself outside the high priest’s house. Inside, Jesus faced His accusers. Outside, Peter faced his.

“You were with Him,” a servant girl charged.

“No, I wasn’t!” Peter replied vehemently.
Three times he denied Jesus. Though she didn’t know the importance of her words, Jesus’ words to Peter were fulfilled. Peter missed an opportunity to share about Jesus but did she later believe anyway?

A man crafted a sign saying King of the Jews which was hung above the cross. Did he ponder the words and believe?

Soldiers at the foot of the cross took Jesus’ clothing home. Did they realize that what they held touched the body of the Savior? Did they believe?

Despite intense pain while hanging on the cross, Jesus looked beyond himself and forgave a criminal beside Him. One entered Paradise with Him while the other mocked and was lost.

The centurion praised God, and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” Luke 23:47 (NIV)

His life and the others who watched the execution had to be changed. Did they believe?

During Holy Week there were endless opportunities to accept or reject. Every person, then as now, makes that choice. Do you believe?

Dear Heavenly Father, help us believe. Amen

Who Were They?

The woman, a widow, a certain man, a blind man, little children, owners... Unnamed characters played small but often important parts in the Bible. Even in the Easter story, anonymous people added to the drama. Centuries of Bible reading and teaching have brought notoriety to countless individuals.

“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Those who were sent went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
They replied, “The Lord needs it.” Luke 19:30-34 (NIV)

The curious owner followed the two men. Maneuvering through a boisterous crowd, he trudged up the hill outside of the city. When the people cleared for the donkey, he saw Jesus. It was true.

He had heard stories about Jesus saving the Jews and longed to meet him. But with throngs surrounding the colt, the owner could only watch from a distance. As singing started, he joined the chorus. Excitement reigned. The multitude formed a path in front of his donkey. They threw palm fronds and cloaks on the dusty road as they praised Jesus. Not only was his donkey a part of the journey, but so was he because he obeyed.

The unnamed man became an integral part of Palm Sunday. Like other anonymous people in the Bible, he would probably be shocked to learn of his prominence.

God’s plan is like a gigantic puzzle with each section completing the picture. If even a tiny piece is missing, the entire image is distorted and diminished. No part is too small. God joins his people with all of their talents, skills, and actions into his tapestry.

Dear Lord, thank you for using each action, large or small, as part of your plan. Amen.