Heavenly Company

Recently, I observed a flock of beautiful geese and ducks that the Lord so masterfully made. As I watched them, I was just amazed by the color orange. The orange that colored their beaks was so beautiful. It almost seemed unrealistic. How could an orange that beautiful exist? That doesn’t even begin to speak of its texture – so luscious that I longed to touch it. Out of fear of getting snipped by the bird’s unpredictable beak, I restrained my curiosity.  How good is the Lord to have created such imaginative creatures? He has a plan. The wandering geese and ducks know nothing about coronavirus. They just waddle along nibbling at their feathers and green grass in search of something to eat.

A brave goose approached me as I observed the flock from a bench beside the pond. I expect it was driven by the faintest thought that I might have a treat for him. As it came closer and closer, I was able to gaze deeply into his eyes. Eyes of the most incredible blue. Blue like an infinite, crystal-clear body of water with a dark black center. As I stared into the eyes of this beautiful goose, I wondered what it may see in me. I will never know, but what I do know is that his eyes were awe-striking. How kind of God to afford me the opportunity of this experience.

This is a difficult time for many of us. We all have different challenges during this uncertain time. Some seem thornier than others. While I am beyond blessed in many ways, I remain human. I still struggle with yearning for things to be back as they were before March 2020. I long to hug my friends and family without worrying if I am going to make them sick or that they might make me sick. I want to get out and live life in the “normal” we knew before. Yet, that is not my reality right now. I am left in the company of my cat and walks alone - that on occasion provide unexpected company – Heavenly Company in the form of white, white birds. Though this company could not speak “human,” they acknowledged me - even if it was out of shallow, food-wanting intentions. Oh, to be acknowledged and known by another. Even if it is only by birds, it seems that when whoever or whatever acknowledges me, I am reminded and comforted by this truth:

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and  you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” A selection from a Psalm of David – Psalm 139:1-12

"Leave it To Beaver!"

Leave it to Beaver! Starring: Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow, and Jerry Mathers as the Beaver.

In a male commentator’s voice, these are the words that have echoed from television sets across America millions of times since this renowned sitcom’s first debut in October 1957.  Even if one has not heard or seen it himself, he knows of it.  It is familiar.  This sitcom painted the picture of what it looked like to live in 1950s American suburbia.  Almost 60 years later, its influence lives on in our country.  While some people are appalled by this picture of family and suburbia life screaming “women’s rights!” or “end male domination,” many people lust over this ideal.  For those who are attracted to the marriage and family of Ward and June Cleaver, what is it about their life that is so appealing?   Is there an innate desire to live this way or is it merely an image or façade painted by our culture – a social construct? 

 

We have almost been convinced that if we lived the way the Cleaver’s did, we would be safe and secure.  Warm in our suburban home, surrounded by our white picket fence that formed the perimeter around our plush freshly mowed lawn, setting down to the table to eat a homemade baked apple pie served to us by our mother in a pearl necklace, we would be safe.  Safe.  Yes – safe – for a moment.  A fleeting moment.  Yet, life happens and sometimes we are not given that apple pie. In fact, many of us aren’t.  Then, what do we do?  Give up? Hang up the towel?  No.  There is something greater.  We have never been promised comfort or security on this Earth.  That is not the point of this life.  This life is a journey and sometimes it is a difficult one.  This life is a journey to becoming something greater if we allow ourselves to become it.  One day, this life will end. Then and only then will we experience eternal glory, eternal security, and eternal comfort.  Ward and June Cleaver do not determine where I spend eternity.

 

 

 

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7