The Owls
Give me a sign of your goodness...for you, O Lord,
have helped me and comforted me."
Psalm 86:17
Driving home one late afternoon, I felt empty, dry, and bone weary. From that perspective, everything I had done during the day seemed pointless...just so much wasted time. Pulling into my driveway, I whispered, "Lord, I need to see you at work. I need you to touch me in some special, unusual way tonight.”
In my bedroom an hour later, still fighting the blues, I paused by the bay window overlooking our backyard. Suddenly I spotted something in the twilight -- two somethings! -- with large wingspans, fluttering on a branch of my neighbor's pine tree. Then I saw yet a third great bird -- even larger -- perched on one of our pines. They were huge great-horned owls. Before long, the owl from my yard joined the other two. My visiting friend came into the room, grabbing binoculars. Peering into the neighbor's tree, she said, "Joni, those are baby owls!" They had been bobbing, flapping, and hopping back and forth on the branch waiting for their mother -- obviously the larger owl who had been in my tree. We even saw the mother fly away and, within minutes, come back with a mouse to feed her babies.
What a thrill to watch these unusual representatives of God's creation up close and personal! I forgot all about my dreary mood of a few moments before. When the whole escapade was over, I remembered my prayer. I would have thought God would have given me His "fresh touch" through special words from my visiting friend...or maybe a verse of Scripture...or perhaps a vase of flowers surprising me at the kitchen sink. Who would have thought owls would have been his emissaries of encouragement?
Ask the Lord to show Himself to you in new and unexpected ways today. And prepare to be surprised!
Lord, I don't want to miss those little "calling cards" of Your presence, Your interest, and Your care. Please keep me alert to all the ways You speak Your love.
—Joni Eareckson Tada, Pearls of Great Price, May 4
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