We have a hummingbird feeder at home. I bring it in after the birds have migrated to wherever it is they go just before winter. I give it a good cleaning and put it away for the season, knowing there aren't any hummingbirds around to feed from it anyway, and that a clean protected feeder will last longer than one left to the elements.
But once the spring comes, I put the feeder out again, and the birds feed all through the spring, summer, and fall. Unless of course, I don't refill it once it's empty.
That's what happened this year. The birds ate everything and because I didn't refill the feeder, it sat empty from a whole month. And then another. There were no hummingbirds anywhere.
Two weeks ago, I took the feeder down, gave it a good cleaning, mixed a fresh batch of sugar water, and put the refilled feeder back in its place. Within two days, the hummingbirds, which had been gone for two full months, were back feeding and dive-bombing one another just as if the feeder had never gone empty.
I find their return amazing, especially because it happened so quickly. It's also amazing to me that they find the feeder at all. After all, it's just a small, colorless, nondescript bottle in a small spot in our small yard. Yet, from every other possible place to feed, these birds find our bottle, monitor it, flock to it, return to it, fight over it.
I guess once you know where the food is, you don't forget. I pray we all be like the hummingbirds, but for us, knowing where to find friendship, grace, peace, hope. Want more? Click here to read Psalm 145:14-21.
Showing posts with label psalm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psalm. Show all posts
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
even the wasps
A recent tour of the facilities at Prince of Peace resulted in an all-out assault on the paper wasps. They had built nests on the playground, under the eaves, on the windows.
The very diligent property manager was on top of it. Within no time, the nests were gone; safety restored.
But in an out-of-the-way spot, one nest remained. Nestled against the full-length window separating the narthex from the prayer garden, a huge nest lay secure beneath the giant leaf of a plant tucked away in the corner of the garden. Thirty or more wasps were still busy at work, while every other nest on the property had been destroyed.
It's fascinating to watch them, so close to the window that you can get one nose away in complete safety. They have not a care in the world except to build, create, lay eggs, feed, or whatever it is they are doing. They want nothing to do with anything or anyone, unless the nest is threatened. Then they are fighting machines, working as a team to sting whatever has compromised their home.
That's why we spray them; because they might sting us if we disturb their nest unaware. But perhaps we need new policies. Rather than strike preemptively, why don't we live and let live? Why don't we remove the present dangers and leave the rest alone? Why don't we walk the yard respectfully?
Perhaps we need new policies not just with wasps, but with every living thing. Why don't we remember the sanctity in nature, including other people, and thank the God who made us all, even the wasps? Why don't we walk the earth respectfully, risking getting stung once in a while? Want more? Click here to read Psalm 104.
The very diligent property manager was on top of it. Within no time, the nests were gone; safety restored.
But in an out-of-the-way spot, one nest remained. Nestled against the full-length window separating the narthex from the prayer garden, a huge nest lay secure beneath the giant leaf of a plant tucked away in the corner of the garden. Thirty or more wasps were still busy at work, while every other nest on the property had been destroyed.
It's fascinating to watch them, so close to the window that you can get one nose away in complete safety. They have not a care in the world except to build, create, lay eggs, feed, or whatever it is they are doing. They want nothing to do with anything or anyone, unless the nest is threatened. Then they are fighting machines, working as a team to sting whatever has compromised their home.
That's why we spray them; because they might sting us if we disturb their nest unaware. But perhaps we need new policies. Rather than strike preemptively, why don't we live and let live? Why don't we remove the present dangers and leave the rest alone? Why don't we walk the yard respectfully?
Perhaps we need new policies not just with wasps, but with every living thing. Why don't we remember the sanctity in nature, including other people, and thank the God who made us all, even the wasps? Why don't we walk the earth respectfully, risking getting stung once in a while? Want more? Click here to read Psalm 104.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)