“Pay attention!” I was occasionally told in school. I understood the teacher’s goal, but I never thought it would have a spiritual application, but it did.
On Monday, July 25, 1984, I purchased a new journal and that evening I made my first entry. I was awed by an amazing electrical storm that took place as I drove home from the city that evening. Reflecting on the event, I wrote, “The highlight of the trip was a spectacular light show that we watched as we followed a major storm home from the city. We were entertained by this natural wonder for nearly two hours. It was a marvelous display of beauty and power. What an image of God.”
That experience sent me on a quest to be more attentive to the “little things” around me, things that often go unnoticed, or become the source of aggravation rather than inspiration. I realized that I often missed great opportunities to learn, grow, and experience because I was too busy, or blind to see. I wanted to view the world with new eyes that recognized the meaning and the feeling hidden in events, places and things.
My quest did not disappoint me. Two days later, I returned from a Finance Committee meeting to find an orphaned bird sleeping in a ball. It was curled up on a dirt pile next to our garage. If I had not been looking, I would never have noticed. In the morning, I looked again, only now the young bird was joined by another just like it. Neither of my new avian friends seemed able to care for themselves. I was humbled, wishing I do something to help these tender creatures, but I did not know where to begin. I even said a little prayer for them and in that moment my mind flooded with images of the God who’s “eye is on the sparrow.” That night, my journal read, “I am glad that the God I serve is even concerned about that little bird in my driveway. I pray that I might know that level of compassion for the world.” In contrast to the powerful image of Monday night’s storm, I now saw the expression of nurturing care.
We easily fill our lives so full, that there is little time to see the “little things.” Yet, it is often those overlooked experiences that can be the most rewarding. In them God is present in unique and special ways that do not shout for our attention. Instead, they invite us to know and experience more of His creativity and love, and then they way for us to respond.
We should be encouraged to look for the hidden moments with God, to keep our heart’s eyes open to God’s presence in the world and in our life. When we do, we begin to see the hand of God in the thunderstorm, the bird, and ourselves. Then we are able to give thanks for these gifts of God and the way they point us toward the Giver.
Even now, as I reflect on those events, I am awed once again by God’s attention to detail. I remind myself often that it is amazing what you can learn from a thunderstorm and two little birds in your driveway?
“What happened to the two birds?” you ask. One week later they flew away, without my help.
