I was atop a 15 foot bow blind at our ranch in Beeville the other day. I had seen a big, white barn owl leave that blind a few minutes earlier and wanted to see just how bad a mess that blind was becoming.
The climb up the wobbly stair case and the lack of side rails at the top left me feeling a bit concerned about being surprised by whatever else might be inside the blind. So, cautiously I put down my bottle of water and was about to push aside the cover to peer inside when a beautiful barn owl face was looking straight at me!
Not really wanting to see how protective the owl would be (after all I was intruding the home of an avid hunter with razor sharp talons and a pretty nasty bite if you are their prey!), I went as quickly as possible down the wobbly stair case hoping I would not fall off onto the prickly brush below. I was off the blind quickly enough to watch that beautiful bird fly off to a nearby tree to wait until I left so he could go back into his daytime napping.
For my part, I had to settle my breathing and heart down after my pretty quick descent.
It is amazing how the unexpected can get you moving!
One of the truths of God is that His Spirit “blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.” (John 3.8) The Spirit always manifests in unexpected ways and God always does things his way, which often doesn’t match how we would do things. (Isaiah 55.8)
As this Lenten journey continues, we are invited to pray that we will allow the Spirit to lead us and show us the thoughts and ways of God. We are invited to pray that we will begin to prepare our hearts to received God’s unexpected Love in Christ Jesus. We are invited to pray that He who redeems us from our past and present brokenness, hurts, fears, and whatever else leads us to “curve inwardly” on ourselves will place on a future path that leads to fullness of life and joy.
Pray that God’s Spirit will lead you through this wobbly walkway of Lent onto the firm ground of an Easter faith that sees the world as God sees it and responds to God’s call to proclaim this Easter message wherever you are.
Pray for God’s Spirit to surprise you and get you moving towards God’s plan!
