Sandhill Cranes

Where have I been? In all the years we’ve lived here I haven’t noticed the migrating birds. I mean, I’ve seen some birds flying around from time to time but never realized we live right across the Tennessee River from the 6000 acre Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge which hosts thousands of migrating birds from November thru February each year. We’re talking about Sandhill Cranes, Whooping Cranes, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Heron, Bonaparte and Ringbilled Seagulls, Mallards, American Black Ducks, Canadian Geese, Swans, etc. If 5000 ducks, geese and swans aren't enough to catch one’s attention, you might think 10 to 14 thousand Sandhill Cranes would be. These are large grey birds with red foreheads and white cheeks. They stand around 4 feet in height and watching them walk around is an interesting sight– if you're paying attention. I did casually think, "Where are these birds coming from?" But I never checked into it.

For some reason this year was different. Maybe it’s because the window view from my desk includes Hiwassee Island Wildlife Refuge and it was rather impossible to ignore the thousands of birds in my line of sight. And also, because the birds made such a delightful racket as groups of them flew past the house on their way out of town for the last several mornings.

Ishah and I drove down to Blythe Ferry crossing last Sunday and saw a large number of birds along the river but I didn’t think much about it. A friend mentioned they were migrating and I noted the information but still wasn’t too curious. I mean, birds migrate. Then Ishah and I drove to the water’s edge in the lower subdivision here and saw photographers with huge, expensive cameras taking pictures of the congregating cranes and I realized this must be an important event to somebody. And finally, Judi mentioned people travel here from distant places, such as Alaska, to photograph this event and so I decided I should pay more attention.

So, yesterday, when I heard the racket again, I decided to watch them. The Sandhill Cranes were indeed leaving in groups of about 25 each. I started counting as group after group took flight– sometimes 6 or 8 groups were airborne together. I estimated about 40 groups left out while I was watching. They came straight up from the river and flew past the end of our house. How cool is that?

Not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy such a bountiful glimpse of God’s providence on their doorstep. I’m thankful and plan to pay more attention now that I know Dayton is known for more than the Scopes Trial, strawberries and meth. We are a major migratory rest area for the Sandhill Cranes flying south from Lake Michigan and Lake Superior in the Fall and going back home to Canada in the Spring. What a blessing.

Be Kind To One Another

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Eph 4:32
Love is patient and kind... 1 Cor 13:4
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Prov 31:26

What Is Kindness?  It's favor, mercy, loving-kindness, forgiveness, goodness and love.

When I was in fourth grade, my 7 yr old brother, Timmy, and I were riding to school on a bicycle. I was pedaling and steering and he was riding in front of me on the male bar. After awhile, he asked if he could steer and I let him. Shortly thereafter we hit a very large rock and crashed. It was a dirt road and neither of us got hurt-- just got our clothes a little dirty.  So, we got up and dusted ourselves off to continue our journey. But Timmy was scared, thinking I would be mad, and he’d be in trouble, so he apologized and I comforted him with something like, "Oh, it’s alright. Don’t worry about it. Accidents happen. You didn’t do it on purpose." And we went on to school.

A couple of years ago Tim shared that story with me. I could barely remember the incident when he first brought it up, but he said it was still very clear in his mind because he expected anger and recieved kindness instead. He said he wanted to share it with me because it was one of the fondest memories of his life. And then he added the belated confession, "Oh, by the way, just to set the record straight. I steered into that rock on purpose– just to see what would happen!"

I just happened on this quote: Lol!

Kindness is not without its rocks ahead. People are apt to put it down to an easy temper and seldom recognize it as the secret striving of a generous nature...    HONORE DE BALZAC, Le Siècle

 Have you ever been there? Can you remember a time when you desperately needed kindness? When you needed somebody to be there for you in a supportive way? I do.

I was in eighth grade at Central Junior High School in Belleville, Illinois. Our substitute teacher, Miss Lil, had stepped out of the room and soon paper wads began to fly. Several kids were shooting them all over the room with rubber bands. It wasn't something I was into but I finally decided to shoot one across the room at a friend of mine. As it happened, I missed and hit a "non-friend" just as the teacher walked back into the room and that student told on me. I was so shocked I dropped the rubber band in the floor as the teacher headed my way with discipline on her mind. She was in no mood for mercy, favor or loving-kindness. I'd never had a swatting at school so I was scared, but just as she ordered me to the principal's office for a swatting, my friend, Teresa Reister, stood and said, "I was doing it too." Wow! She put herself on the line for me. I was overwhelmed by her kindness! And then several more students stood and made the same confession so we were all sent to the principal's office and received only a lecture because we were so many. I escaped the paddle and I've never forgotten Teresa's heroic intervention. How kind of her! And, I have to believe that was a God-inspired action on her part so I give God the glory!     

I’ve been in "scary" situations several times and the kindness born of God's gracious love that flows through His people always catches me by surprise. It’s like a gift that takes my breath away and produces profound gratitude! Of course, there's no greater gift of grace than the blood of Jesus that has covered our transgressions and provided eternal salvation for those who trust in Him. And there's nothing I'm more grateful for!

Be kind to one another, the scripture says. We all have an opportunity to follow that admonition. In word and in deed we can encourage, support, forgive and bless one another out of the sheer kindness of love. And really, it's the least we can do considering all that Jesus has done for us.

 

By Choice

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." -- Rev 3:20

Jesus knocks daily on the doors of our heart. We listen for Him, or we don't. We open the door, or we don't. He comes in, or He doesn't. He dines with us, or He doesn't. We dine with Him, or we don't. All by choice.

Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number. -- Jer 2:32

Maybe it's time to question the "demands" in life. Take control. Set new priorities. As the saying goes, "Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last."

Are we making proper choices in the light of eternity? Or are we accepting without question the daily "demands" on our time? When time is over, our ultimate choice is too.

Time is a strange phenomena. When it is unfilled, it weighs us down and seems to pass slowly. When it is full, it seems as light as a helium balloon and quickly floats away beyond our grasp.

...you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. -- James 4:14

When this life is over, what will we say about it?
When this life is over, what can we do about it?
When this life is over, what will we have to show for it?

Jesus knocks. He never uses the key. We must open the door or it will remain shut. He waits. We decide. We cannot avoid the responsibility. The choice is ours.

When God said His people had forgotten Him days without number, He was saying they had forgotten by choice. It was not an accident, but on purpose. Life had become full enough without God. The world, the flesh and the devil had made their demands and their demands were being met daily... by choice.

Before we decide how we will fill our days, we should remember that the most important things in life are not the demands. The choice is ours.

Lord, you know my heart better than I do. You know my desire to live for you, and you know that I often fail to translate desire into action. The wherewithal escapes me when I try to make it in the flesh instead of relying on your Spirit. Father, teach and guide me by your Spirit. Help me to glorify you by following after the things of the Spirit and not the things of the flesh. Help me to crucify the flesh, walk in newness of life, and be a faithful servant, daily...by choice!

Thank You, Father. All praise belongs to you!

The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh

I'm not sure what I was looking for when I started reading Sheila Walsh's new book about God's promises, but whatever it was, the book exceeded my expectations. It was interesting and much more. Sheila Walsh pulls you into her world with the very first story. And then she keeps you invested by sharing about her childhood, her relationship with both of her parents as individuals, her marriage, her son, her career and various areas of her life as she encourages reliance on God's promises.

This is a balanced, Word based, book. Sheila Walsh manages to build one's faith without making snake-oil-salesmen claims. It's not a cure-all encyclopedia. It is a challenging presentation of the faith-walk with Jesus Christ that sometimes leads us to places we'd rather not visit and keeps us longer than we'd like to stay. And yet, because we are with Jesus, we know it's for our best, and His promises will carry us all the way home!

As you read this book, you can expect to be challenged to think more deeply about many aspects of your theology. There are plenty of stories from scripture. If you are a novice, you'll get a great introduction to some classic teachings. If you think you've heard it all, you may be surprised by what you gain by taking a fresh look and spending some time there. I know I was.

I highly recommend In The Shelter of God's Promises by Sheila Walsh. Her disarming candor and the encouragement of the message will leave you ready for more. 

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://booksneeze®.com/> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Matter of Perspective

As the old Yiddish saying goes, "To a worm in horseradish, the whole world is horseradish." Perspective is powerful!  Let's take a look at a couple of poems that illustrate our tendency to view things with a skewed perspective. 

The Old Oaken Bucket by Samuel Woodworth

How dear to this heart are the scenes of my childhood,

When fond recollection presents them to view,

The orchard, the meadow, the deep tangled wildwood,

And ev'ry lov'd spot which my infancy knew.

The wide spreading stream, the mill that stood near it,

The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell.

The cot of my father, the dairy house by it,

And e'en the rude bucket that hung in the well.

The old oaken bucket, the ironbound bucket,

The moss-covered bucket that hung in the well.

The moss-covered bucket I hail as a treasure,

For often at noon when returned from the field,

I found it the source of an exquisite pleasure,

The purest and sweetest that nature can yield.

How ardent I seized it with hands that were glowing,

And quick to the white pebbled bottom it fell.

Then soon with the emblem of truth overflowing,

And dripping with coolness it rose from the well.

The old oaken bucket, the ironbound bucket,

The moss-covered bucket that hung in the well.

How soon from the green mossy rim to receive it,

As poised on the curb it reclined to my lips,

Not a full flowing goblet could tempt me to leave it,

Tho' filled with the nectar that Jupiter sips.

And now far removed from the loved situation,

The tear of regret will intrusively swell.

As fancy reverts to my father's plantation,

And sighs for the bucket that hung in the well.

The old oaken bucket, the ironbound bucket,

The moss-covered bucket that hung in the well.

The Old Oaken Bucket (As revised by the Board of Health)  Anonymous

With what anguish of mind I remember my childhood,

Recalled in the light of knowledge since gained,

The malarious farm, the wet fungus-grown wildwood,

The chills then contracted that since have remained;

The scum-covered duck-pond, the pig-sty close by it,

The ditch where the sour-smelling house drainage fell,

The damp, shaded dwelling, the foul barnyard nigh it

 CBut worse than all else was that terrible well,

And the old oaken bucket, the mold-crusted bucket,

The moss-covered bucket that hung in the well.

Just think of it! Moss on the vessel that lifted

The water I drank in the days called to mind;

Ere I knew what professors and scientists gifted

In the waters of wells by analysis find;

The rotting wood-fiber, the oxide of iron,

The algae, the frog of unusual size,

The water as clear as the verses of Byron,

Are things I remember with tears in my eyes.

Oh, had I but realized in time to avoid them

The dangers that lurked in that pestilent draft

I'd have tested for organic germs and destroyed them

With potassic permanganate ere I had quaffed.

Or perchance I'd have boiled it, and afterwards strained it

Through filters of charcoal and gravel combined;

Or, after distilling, condensed and regained it

In potable form with its filth left behind.

How little I knew of the enteric fever

Which lurked in the water I ventured to drink,

But since I've become a devoted believer

In the teachings of science, I shudder to think.

And now, far removed from the scenes I'm describing,

The story of warning to others I tell,

As memory reverts to my youthful imbibing

And I gag at the thought of that terrible well,

And the old oaken bucket, the fungus-grown bucket,

In fact, the slop-bucket-- that hung in the well.

We have here an idealistic view followed by a surrealistic view. Neither is grounded in reality.

To illustrate: I once saw three paintings of the same farm. One was idealistic, another was surrealistic, and the other was realistic. The first picture had a beautiful white farmhouse, freshly painted, in perfect repair, coupled with an equally perfect red barn, and a clean and uncluttered barnyard filled with perfect animals. The second picture featured a farmhouse and a barn barely detectable behind a huge manure pile. And, the third picture featured an aged farmhouse and a weathered barn with a somewhat cluttered barnyard filled with scruffy animals and various scattered animal droppings.

Idealism and surrealism are common. Very few persons dwell in the realm of reality-- that is the arena of unadulterated truth that Jesus proclaimed "will set us free." That is truth which hasn't been distorted by misunderstood experiences or biased instructions from one source or another. No, most of us lean toward idealism or surrealism. Most of us are by nature, and therefore, by habit, either optimistic or pessimistic.

Scientists, who study the brain, tell us we were originally hardwired one way or the other. And, for many, our choices throughout life have strengthened the original wiring. We have actually developed grooves in our brains for carrying positive or negative messages. So much so, that even when we struggle to change our thinking patterns we fall into those ditches. It is only the blessed few who have had their original wiring renewed by putting on the mind of Christ and being restored by His love.

So, what do these poems illustrate?  They show that everything is affected by our perspective.

1. Our past is not simply our past, it's an interpretation based on perspective.

Children who grow up in the same homes will describe their childhood experience based, not on actual events as much as, on their own personal perspectives. A friend of mine, who visited my family with me a few of years ago, noted that my brother Tim, who is only 2 years younger than I,  seems to have a more positive view of his childhood than I do of mine. I reluctantly explained to her that at birth I was simply "another big girl" (not the son my parents hoped for) and that he entered the world as the firstborn son, which brought him a favored status in the home. And also, that when Mother died, Dad softened and raised the boys in a kinder and more generous way than he had raised my sister Charlotte and me. 

 

And that leads into a pertinent story from my childhood. Since I'm aware of the importance of perspective and I'm trying to get a clearer picture of my childhood, I recently asked my dad if he thought I was a difficult child to raise. (Not a good question unless you're looking for truth.) He first responded that he didn't see any of his children as especially difficult, but then he paused and added, "Well, there was the door slamming incident in Oregon." And, then he added that I was a nosy child, always popping up when people were trying to take pictures. There were no negative comments about my siblings (though I could have added a few) but I didn't get offended at him because I was seeking truth and I knew I needed to see things through adult eyes to help balance the immature perspective I still carried from my childhood. 

That conversation helped me, but not the way I thought it would. It helped me realize that I wasn't as "wicked" as I ended up feeling because not "everything" that happened was my fault.  I was 7or 8 years old, at the time and in anger I had slammed the screen door of my grandparent's house because I felt rejected by both my peers and my parents. The physical discipline didn't hurt nearly as bad as the responsibilty I felt for the tumultuous reaction to my actions. Finally grasping the truth about that incident has set me free. Yes, I was wrong to slam the door but door slamming is not a crime worthy of endless self-flagellation. And I was not responsible for the behavior of others. A little self-administered grace is appropriate after all these years.

What hurtful memories do you need to re-examine from an adult perspective so you can be set free from the collateral damage? 

2. Our present is colored by our perspective.

3. Our relationships are consistently affected by our perspective.

4. The way we see ourselves is a matter of perspective. (Proverbs says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.")

5. Our future prospects are limited or enhanced by our perspective.

All of life is directly affected by how we view things. That's what Jesus meant when He said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Real freedom only comes with a Godly perspective: a spiritual outlook. The fruit of the Spirit grows in the light of the truth! Truth is not simply something you believe is right. Truth is absolute. It is God's revelation of what is right. God alone knows the truth so He's the only One who can tell it to us. His Word is the foundation for all truth. Our perspective will never be righteous until it is built on God's Word. It must always line up with the Word of God or it will lead us astray. We need God's guidance every moment!

Let's look at some examples of how perspective affects people.  First, let's review the Suffering Servant passages in Isaiah 52 and 53.

Suffering Servant

Behold, My Servant shall act wisely; He shall be magnified and lifted up and be very high. Just as many were stunned at Him, His appearance was disfigured more than any man, and His shape more than the sons of men, so shall He startle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; for what had not been told them they shall see, and what they had not heard they shall understand.   Isaiah 52:13-15

Who has trusted our report? And to whom has the strength of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no figure or beauty; and when we see Him, there is nothing about His appearance that pleases us. He is contemptible and considered frail by men, a Man dealing with physical and mental pain and experiencing maladies. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was thought of as vile and worthless, and we did not value Him or even give Him much thought.

But, in very fact (stated emphatically), He has taken away our sicknesses and borne our physical and mental pain; yet we considered Him plagued, punished by God, and oppressed. But He was dishonored, violated, and pierced for our rebellion, He was beat to pieces for our perversity; the correction for our soundness, health, prosperity, and friendship was upon Him, and by His wounds we are made healthy. All we like sheep have erred; we have turned, every one, to his own course of life; and the LORD has caused to fall on Him the punishment for the perversity of us all.

He was distressed and He was humiliated, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.  By coercion, He was deprived of justice, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people He was stricken.  And He was given a burial place with the ungodly, but with the wealthy at His death, because He had done nothing wrong, nor did anything false come from in His mouth.

Yet it delighted the LORD to crush Him; He has made Him weak, sick and diseased. When You make His life an offering for sin, He shall see His posterity, He shall lengthen His days, and the delight of the LORD shall succeed in His strength. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.  Isaiah 53:1-12    (I amplified this passage for clarity.)

What did the spiritually blind people see when they beheld Jesus?

An unattractive wimp. (No beauty, no figure, nothing desirable about Him.)

A frail person unworthy of a second glance. (Contemptible.)

A grief stricken loser. (Tortured, sickly, vile and worthless.)

A man suffering under the judgement of God. 

What do people with spiritual insight see when they behold Jesus?

The Beautiful Prince of Peace.

The Mighty Warrior-God who is worthy of our attention and praise.

A Compassionate Lover of our souls who is Triumphant over sin and death!

The Anointed One, Beloved of the Father, who has been exalted above all others! 

How inaccurate the world's perception of Him was then! How different it will be when He comes again and startles the nations with the open revelation of Who He IS!

Now let's review the Parable of the Landowner. Remember, we're looking at perspective.                                  

The Parable of the Landowner

AFor the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them,  'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'  They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.'  He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.'  So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward,  'Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.'  And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.  And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying,  'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.'  But he answered one of them and said,  'Friend, I am doing you no wrong.  Did you not agree with me for a denarius?  'Take what is yours and go your way.  I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.  'Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things?  Or is your eye evil because I am good?'  So the last will be first, and the first last.  For many are called, but few are chosen.

How did those who came first view those who came last?

Unworthy of a day's wage. (Salvation)

How did they see themselves?

Worthy of more than what they'd agreed to. (Works Salvation)

How did they see the Master?

Unfair for not recognizing their works, they even thought He was wicked!

What did the Master see in those who came last?

Potential. Men in need of something worth doing with their lives.

How did He view the situation?         

As an opportunity to reveal His goodness to all of them.

How did He see those who had started working first?

Unfaithful to their agreement. False accusers.

Was He right? 

Of course! He is God. He corrected them, but He didn't reject them.

Let's review one more story about the effect of perspective. 

The Good Samaritan

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So he answered and said, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.' And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."  Luke 10:25-37

What did the Priest and the Levite see?

A time drain. An expense. A danger to themselves, perhaps.

How did they respond because of their perceptions?

They ignored one in great needB essentially left him for dead.

What did the good Samaritan see?

Not a wounded Jew-- but a jewel. (He saw his innate value.)

Not a burden-- but a brother in need.

Not an inconvenience-- but an eternal investment. 

How did his perception influence his behavior? 

He did what was right!  

Now let's bring this thing home. When you look at yourself what do you see?

What talents and abilities are you neglecting because you don't believe in yourself?

What opportunities are you stifling because you just can't see them working out?

What relationships are you neglecting or avoiding or destroying because of doubts and fears?

When you look at others what do you see?

 Problems or promises?

 Foes of friends?

 Mortals or Immortals?

When you look at God what do you see?

Someone Fearsome or Awesome?

Someone Punitive or Loving?

A Judge or a Father?

Whatever your present viewpoint, it can be altered and enhanced through the Word and by the Spirit of God.  Whatever your present need, Jesus wants to meet it.

The Lord spoke to me a few years ago and said, "No longer say you can't do what I say you can do." Those words changed my perspective and my behavior. God is no respecter of persons. He wants you to know this too. If you will listen and respond to His voice it will change you. Allow Him to change your perspective and He will change your life!