Two Personal Parables...

The Parable of the Brown Dove....

Yesterday (May 2, Saturday) was a blustery rainy day. Really, most of the day was just plain wet. I was working a closing shift at Anthro. Part way through the afternoon, a sweet little brown dove flew mistakenly into our store. She landed on a display that was part wood and faced the window. It easily seconded as a simple stoop.

Perhaps she needed shelter from the rain. Perhaps she was confused.

Regardless, she flew in and rested securely on the wood display and started preening. I have to say, it was a sweet sweet sight. Such a little peaceful bird inside our store.

Unfortunately she didnt belong. She was a wild thing, and we couldnt have her in the store where she could possibly hurt or scare a customer. Our store manager was going to call someone to take care of her, but I wanted to help her right then.

I thought it would be fairly simple to catch her from behind and escort her back outside. Our store manager asked me if I was an experienced bird catcher. (i had to stop myself from laughing. I almost sarcastically responded "why yes, in a past job I worked for animal control"-- instead I told him no, but that I had birds growing up)

So, there I was, gloves on and a stepladder underneath. I reached and gently grasped her little body, but round one wasnt firm enough and her frightened fluttering scared me a little and so she flew down to the ground. I was able to then be more deliberate and grab her a bit harder. She still fluttered her wings in my grasp, but I held her close to my chest and told her it was going to be alright. She did calm and was able to pet her sweet little head & chest.

Then I walked outside.

Knowingly she looked around & seemed to realize that was where she belonged. I gave a gentle upwards thrust and released her. In the blink of an eye she spread her little wings and flew away.

I dont know why it was such an emotional moment for me, but it really touched my heart. For a brief moment, I held a wild thing in my hands. I helped escort a wild thing back into its rightful place.

At work, the girls refernced me as the "animal whisperer." I laughed a little, but it was kinda cute.

The experience has stayed with me, sitting on the front of my mind.

I have realized that often in this life, we are like that sweet little brown dove. Misdirected, wet, confused and looking for a safe place to land out of the storm.

Unfortunately that is not where we can stay for long. Inevitably God gently takes us in his hands and escorts us back into our rightful place. We may flutter for a little while and we may not quite understand that his hands are helping us, but eventually, we calm our paniced wings and rest our heads against His chest as he then releases us back into our "wide open" world.

After all, we were not mean to stay forever out of the storms of life. We were not meant to rest comfortably perched in merely watching the world go by.

We were meant to fly.

We were meant to succeed and be free.

Thanks little brown dove for reminding me of God's love.


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The Parable of the Cherry Trees

As you probably know, I am a photographer. As a lover of all things beautiful, one of my life goals is to see the cherry trees in DC. I wanted to make it this year. However, circumstances "beyond my control" helped me decide that I couldnt go....

In all honesty, I was so bummed. I really wanted to go.

And then, a micro miracle occurred. I was at work and a customer started talking to me about their upcoming trip to dc. In the small talk that ensued, I shared my desire to go to the cherry blossom festival, etc. They agreed that it would be wonderful. I also shared that I wouldnt be able to make it this year. This family then shared that there were cherry orchards locally. Well, about 45 minutes away. They wrote down directions and even left a phone number if I got lost.

I was so elated!!! Cherry orchards this side of the states. I would get my wish and save some major cash.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there are always Cherry Orchards close by. The Lord knows our hearts, desires and needs. He can point us to closer orchards which will provide us with the same desired result but with less stumbling around. His orchards are always closer, easier to reach and the smallest amount of difficulty for the maximum amount of result.

Thats how He is.

I still want to see the blossoms in DC, but that will happen another year.

--Shannon