Two Birds and… an Introvert?

Don’t fly solo.

While bicycling through an empty parking lot, I spotted a massive nest at the top of an industrial light pole, so I pedaled around it in the hope of glimpsing a nest dweller.

On my third pass, I saw movement. Feathers at first, and then the distinct shape of a bird’s head.

The bird, a brown-and-white osprey, perched himself on one of the large branches that rimmed the nest. A slightly smaller female joined him. I made a mental note to take photos of the duo in the near future.

A few weeks later, I sighted a third head visible just above the rim of the nest. A baby osprey opened his beak as his mother dropped food into his mouth.

Within days, I set up my camera several yards from the osprey’s light pole. The male kept eyeing me from the nest as I focused on him through the viewfinder. At one point, he spread his wings, took flight, and soared in a wide arc. He let loose a line of white poop before landing back at home. A bit later, he lifted off and circled again, and then honed in on me.

Was he irritated that I had invaded his space? Did he want to shoo me away? Skedaddling, I took cover beneath a tree in case he intended to poop on me.

After taking many pictures, I decided to search for other photo opportunities at a grassy area near the parking lot.

As I set up my tripod on the grass, a flash of red flew into view and disappeared down a hole in the trunk of a palm tree. A woodpecker with a red mark on his head kept poking his face out of the hole. It was if he wanted me to leave so he could go about his business. I photographed the bird, and then packed up my gear and headed home.

When I thought about the bird encounters, two things came to mind. First, the woodpecker staying inside the tree trunk reminded me of my tendency to hole up. Second, the osprey keeping an eye on me near his home reminded me of my discomfort when my space is invaded. 

I shook my head at the silliness of comparing birds to humans. With that said, please bear with me for a moment as I reveal something about my past.

In my younger years, I spent a majority of my life not being vulnerable in friendships. It’s not that I didn’t have friends. It’s just that I feared vulnerability—the risk of baring one’s soul with the potential of being hurt, emotionally. Yes, just like other kids, I experienced ridicule by opening up my heart during those innocent, tender years.

Consequently, I mismanaged my “alone” time that should’ve been better spent replenishing my heart, soul, body and mind. Without that kind of renewed energy, I was unable to pour into authentic friendships with abandon. I tended to worry about saying or doing things that others might dislike. The fear of being disliked was embedded in me as a toddler. That’s right. A toddler! As a result, I didn’t let people see the real me for decades. It was my way of self-preservation.

And then the Lord rocked my world. He helped me to overcome my fears. He healed me and showed me that the real me is likable.

He also showed me that the abundant life we are created to live can seem elusive to those who struggle with opening up their hearts. He revealed that I was not created with a lone-ranger mentality. That I was never created for a solitary lifestyle.

I still tend to fly solo yet truly enjoy people and socializing. Go figure. Recently during the COVID-19 lockdown, I even wondered if I’m a bit more of an introvert than I give myself credit for being. I have to be mindful of my tendency to hole up like the woodpecker. And the osprey’s irritation with me brought to mind that sometimes I have to shake off my discomfort during those times when I prefer not to have my personal space breached. If I don’t, I might miss the chance to console those who are brokenhearted, wounded, or oppressed. To point them to the one true Healer.

It took me a long time to finally “get” what I didn’t understand as a child and young adult. That I need time by myself to refuel in preparation for engaging with people. To do this thing called life.

God created us to do life together. He hardwired us with a desire for fellowship and relationships. The proof is in the fact that He saw the need in Adam for a helper suitable, so He formed Eve from Adam’s rib.

Have a blessed day!

“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’… So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and… took one of the man’s ribs and… made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” (Genesis 2:18-22 NIV)

My Kind of Wanderlust

a country road and godwinks 😉

My guilty pleasure is best described as a kind of wanderlust. Day trips to unknown destinations. You just never know where I'll end up, especially when my camera is along for the ride.

That’s exactly what happened recently when I left the house and began driving inland toward central Florida without an agenda.

Once outside the city limits, the thoroughfare narrowed into a two-lane country road. Baby horses frolicking in a pasture inspired me to pull over and take this photo.

About 30 minutes into my drive, I came to a stop sign at an intersection in the middle of nowhere. I had one of three choices. Turn left and head toward Indiantown. Turn right and head to who knows where. Or continue on the two-lane road in front of me. The pavement directly ahead receded into a canopy of overlapping tree branches. Intrigued, I drove forward on what I would later learn is the Martin Grade Scenic Highway.

Further down the road, I spotted a wooden placard dangling above the entrance of a long driveway. A welcome sign for The Refuge Ranch.

At first, I wondered if the ranch was a sheltering place for rescued horses. An online search revealed that the property is actually a Christian-based facility for women recovering from addiction. A safe haven.

As I continued my drive on the canopied road, I caught a glimpse of three wooden crosses.

Unable to pull over at that precise moment, I spotted a dirt road up ahead. The word selah stenciled on the street sign made me do a double take. 

I turned onto that unpaved road, put my car in park, and let it idle as I sat still and pondered. Why all of a sudden was I coming across biblical things during this particular day trip? Was the hand of providence behind these sightings? 

While my brain absorbed these thoughts, a banner attached to a fence grabbed my attention. 

Printed on the banner was the name Gethsemane Ranch. A scripture from the book of Philippians was noted as well: 

“Press on to the high calling.” (Philippians 3:14)

Needless to say, I was overwhelmed to see in such a short timespan five things found in the Bible—refuge, crosses, selah, a scripture, and Gethsemane (the garden where Jesus was arrested before His crucifixion). I know those roadside fixtures were put in place by Christian people, perhaps for the enjoyment of passing travelers. 

For me, such things are not a coincidence but a godwink. An assurance that the Lord is always for me, with me and guiding me. Even in my wanderlust. 

Have a blessed day!

Fishers in the Storm

Fishermen or fishers of men?

A downpour blanketed the river, yet the fishermen continued to fish from a boat near the shoreline. I had never taken photos during a whiteout but decided to do so at that moment.

After grabbing my camera and attaching the zoom lens, I returned to the glass sliders that showcase the river from the back of the house. One of the men was reeling in his catch. Quickly, I adjusted the camera settings and aimed.

Click. Click. Click.

As I viewed the digital images from the camera's LCD screen, my mind began to formulate my next blogpost. One about fishers of men in the storms of life.

All of us encounter storms. It’s not “if” we will experience trials and tribulations, but “when.” (James 1:2) Once on the other side of such circumstances, we see the trials for what they accomplished—our personal and spiritual growth. We are then able to help and lead others on how to journey through the curveballs thrown at them.

Jesus recognized such leadership qualities in a fisherman whom He encountered at the start of His ministry.

“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18-20 NKJV)

Peter was one of Jesus’ first disciples. Many stories describe him as a colorful character who most likely possessed the equally colorful vocabulary and mannerisms of those in the fishing trade. As he traveled with Jesus, he would have witnessed the Lord’s humility and sacrificial love on a daily basis. 

This former fisherman would stumble many times as his old nature became more like Christ’s. He would be tested, disciplined and refined. And because of fear, he would even deny knowing Jesus. Not once, but three times. (John 18:16-18; 18:25-27) Through his human frailty, Peter would be an example to others that anyone can be forgiven and become a righteous man.

Peter would bring many people to Christ, particularly Jews like himself. However, the Gentiles were another matter. Like many Jewish people, Peter thought of Gentiles as common and unclean. Nevertheless, a vision from heaven would change his perspective. 

In that vision, Peter saw animals that Gentiles ate but that Jews avoided. A voice said, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” When Peter responded that he had never eaten anything common or unclean, the voice spoke again. “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:12-15) Basically, God revealed to Peter that he was not to limit his ministry to Jewish people.

As a result of that divine revelation, Peter would keep company with Gentiles. He would teach that just like the Jews, “common” men also had access to a relationship with the Most High. Additionally, Peter paved the way for the Apostle Paul to focus his ministry on the Gentile nations. 

Yes, this former fisherman would stumbled yet become one of the pillars of the early Christian church. A fisher of men for the kingdom of God.

Have a blessed day!

Try a Little Kindness

Compassion goes a long way during these trying times.

After weeks of being quarantined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I needed to escape to a place where I could photograph the beauty of nature from somewhere other than outside the backdoor. A place where others wouldn't be.

I decided to drive to my dentist’s office for the photo op. I know, I know. A dental office is an unlikely place to whip out my camera, but there’s a reason why I chose to go there. 

During my last dental visit, I noticed finches on the other side of a window where I was sitting. The songbirds fluttered to a bird feeder in a garden just beyond the glass pane.

My dentist told me about a time when a National Geographic photographer sat on a bench in the garden taking pictures of those same birds. When I revealed my passion for photography, he invited me to stop by the garden anytime.

What better way to venture out during the quarantine than by going someplace where other people aren’t—outside a shutdown medical office.

As I took these photos, other birds visited the feeder, too. A cardinal. A bluejay. And even a non-avian species—squirrels.

Watching the various creatures congregate at the bird feeder brought to mind how humans come together to feel connected. To have fellowship with one another. 

However, socializing has been discouraged during these trying times. We’ve isolated and self-quarantined for the protection of ourselves and others. 

Such health practices occurred in ancient times, too. The Bible notes how people avoided those with leprosy in particular. Lepers lived outside of cities, usually alone. They were the social outcasts of their day. To add insult to injury, they were required to warn of their “uncleanliness” to anyone headed in their direction. (Leviticus 13:45-46 NKJV).

I experienced this same type of leeriness toward me as concern for the Coronavirus began to escalate. You see, about two weeks before my hospital began turning away nonessential personnel, acquaintances I encountered after each workday stepped away from me. I saw firsthand the anxiety in their eyes as I came into close proximity. Their worries centered on possible exposure to the virus through me. Their concerns were understandable since I’m the hospital’s newborn photographer and touch the babies as well as interact with their parents. Hence, I had a tiny glimpse into how lepers most likely felt when others avoided them back when Jesus walked the earth.

Jesus had no fear of men. He had no fear of government. (Matthew 22:15-22) And He certainly had no fear of diseases. Scripture documents one of His encounters with a man who was afflicted with leprosy.

“Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.” (Mark 1:40-42 NKJV)

Take note of Jesus’ first reaction when this diseased man approached Him. He was “moved with compassion.” (Mark 1:41) Compassion drove our Lord to reach out and touch the leper in order to heal him. And just like Jesus, we have the opportunity to react with compassion as well. 

Yes, we need to adhere to social distancing, but let’s do so with kindness. Be patient with the elderly man shuffling down the supermarket aisle in front of you. Be courteous to the overwhelmed cashier who just handled a cash transaction with a patron not wearing gloves. And take time to acknowledge a stranger who may be quarantined by herself. 

Even though you may be unable to comfort someone with a human touch, reach out to that person with a smile. Your lips may be hidden behind a mask, yet your smile can still be seen through your eyes. 

Let’s all be kind and compassionate during these trying times.

Have a blessed day.

Now That’s a Bed Story!

The Lord's provisions are, at times, mind blowing!

my former bed

Recently as I was trying to come up with something to blog about, my queen-size bed from five years ago came to mind. Following is a quirky yet inspiring story about that particular piece of furniture.

After moving to Maine in 2013, my rental lease was coming up for renewal, but I didn’t want to renew. I wanted to move somewhere else because I could hear everything going on beyond the perimeter of my loft. And I mean everything. The squeaky bed in the apartment directly above mine. The sounds of late-night partiers. And the ruckus made by the owner of the small grocery store below me as he opened up shop early every morning.  

In addition to finding another place to live, I discerned that I was to sell all of my household items. That divine nudge seemed a bit odd. However, if there is one thing I’ve learned during my many years of walking with the Lord, it’s to act quickly on such nudges no matter how illogical they seem. 

Once I knew that my intuition was correct, I posted all of my furniture on Craig’s List. That is, all except for a chair and my queen-size bed. It just didn’t make sense to sell the bed since I needed a place to lay my head each night. Little did I know that the Lord had other plans. 

After posting my stuff on Craig’s List, I sensed I was to ask my young pastor if he wanted my bed. Asking any man such a question, let alone a pastor, felt uncomfortable. However, the timing was perfect since I had been meeting with him once a week for a church-related matter. 

Furthermore and unbeknownst to me, my future housing need was being set up, supernaturally. Finding that home would happen with the help a lawyer named Steve at my workplace. 

Steve and his wife had moved to Colorado to open a new office for our law firm. During one of his visits back to Maine, he heard me talking with other coworkers about finding a quieter place to live. Later that day, Steve asked if I was serious about moving out of my loft. 

“Yes.” I sounded exasperated with the house hunt, but that feeling evaporated immediately when he put forth a proposition to me. 

He asked if I would consider moving into his fully furnished home in Maine that hadn’t sold yet. Steve emphasized that he and his wife would feel more at ease knowing that someone they trusted was staying there until they found a buyer. 

I was floored! Only God could have orchestrated every step leading up to Steve’s proposal. My concern in finding a new place to live vanished, immediately. However, the Holy Spirit’s prodding to ask my pastor if he wanted my bed did not. 

I knew Pastor Dan and his young family had furniture in the church apartment where they lived. Hence, it just didn’t make sense why he would need a bed, so I avoided asking if he wanted mine. Nonetheless, I couldn’t shake the urgency to broach the subject with him. The pressure to follow through intensified and I had no peace. Finally, I gave in, knowing I had to talk with Dan soon. 

As we were wrapping up one of our weekly meetings, I asked, “Can I speak with you about a personal matter?”

“Sure.” Dan sat back down in his chair and cocked an ear to listen.

I looked him straight in the eye and asked, “I’m moving to a furnished home and would like to know if you want my bed. Do you need a bed?” I wondered if he thought I was strange for asking such an intrusive question. 

The expression on his face looked like that of a deer caught in headlights. Figuratively speaking, I could see the cogwheels turning in his head, trying to make sense of what I had just said. 

After what seemed like an eternity, he exclaimed, “Yes, I do!” 

Now it was my turn to be dumbfounded, wondering if I had heard him correctly. 

The stunned look that had flashed across Dan’s face only seconds before was actually his astonishment at how a need was being met. He told me that he and his wife had bought a house and were moving soon. He also revealed that the church had hired a new technical director who would be moving into the church apartment. The new guy needed a bed. 

I explained to Dan about the divine nudges to ask if he wanted my bed. I was relieved to learn why I felt such an urgency to do so. Finding out about the new fellow’s search for a bed assured me that I hadn’t lost my mind. That I was just obeying a heavenly directive. 

Dan volunteered to find people to help me move. He asked that I rent a truck on moving day in order to transport my bed to the church. He made the deal even sweeter by informing me of some nice twin beds stored in the church basement. He encouraged me to take one. 

Weeks later, my bedroom furniture was dropped off at the church, and a twin bed was loaded on my rental truck. Dan and three members of his church staff helped with my move into Steve’s house. 

That house—a Cape Cod located near a golf course—was nestled against a lush backdrop filled with pine trees and ferns. The solitude of that secluded homestead, especially after a fresh snowfall, reinvigorated my soul. In retrospect, I’m so thankful to have been provided with such a peaceful setting during that “alone” season in my life.

Steve’s home sold a year later, so I moved into an efficiency apartment. I took the twin bed with me and still owned the chair, but I needed a table. At a neighborhood garage sale, I spent five dollars on a small desk to serve as a tabletop. My kitchen was stocked with some dishes left behind by Steve and his wife. An out-of-state family member gave me pots and pans that had been collecting dust in his basement. All of those household items were proof that God will always provide for me when I trust Him and follow His directions.

My efficiency apartment looked like a barely furnished dorm room, yet I refused to buy more furniture. And here’s why. I just sensed I wouldn’t be living in Maine much longer. A year later, I donated my three pieces of furniture and the kitchenware to charity, and then moved south. Surprisingly, the remainder of my worldly possessions fit in my car. 

That move happened almost three years ago. Since then, God has provided two Christian households for me to live in after 16 years of being on my own. 

My hope is that my bed story will give you the courage to step out in faith, knowing that the Lord will always provide for your needs wherever He leads. And in case you didn’t know, He did the same for Abraham, the founding father of our faith, after he obeyed God’s directives. 

Have a blessed day! 

“Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.” - Genesis 22:13-14a (NIV)

Beyond Your Pigpen

Come back to the good life.

Prodigal. It’s a word that goes hand in hand with a pigpen. It may even describe a person whom you hold dear to your heart. It might even describe you.

With that said, this blogpost doesn’t focus on the prodigal son in the Bible who squandered all he had and ended up in a pigpen feeding swine. (Luke 15:11-32) Instead, this post is about sinners who consider themselves a lost cause. Prodigals who consider themselves unworthy to spend eternity in heaven. 

Your prodigal could be your child, your spouse, a parent, a sibling or a friend. Your heart breaks for that loved one just as the heart of our heavenly Father does. He loves your prodigal even more than you do. 

God desires a restored relationship with all wayward souls and, if necessary, will woo them everyday for the remainder of their lives. Some prodigals will turn back to Him immediately upon being convicted of a wrongdoing. Others may have to hit rock bottom several times before realizing Jesus is all they need. And then some will accept Him during their final moments here on earth.

You may think that a deathbed conversion is impossible, but let’s take a look at a Bible story that says otherwise. After Jesus had already been nailed to the cross, the religious rulers sneered at Him, and the Roman soldiers mocked Him. (Luke 23:35-37) Two verses later, even one of the two criminals crucified alongside our Lord blasphemed Him.

However, the other criminal known as the “good thief” rebuked the one who spoke disrespectfully. He told him that their crucifixion was a just reward for their evil deeds, but that Christ had done nothing wrong. Then turning to Jesus, the good thief said, “Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42 NKJV)

Jesus’ response is full of mercy, grace and forgiveness. “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Notice the word “assuredly.” The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines assuredly as “without a doubt.” Other words with the same meaning are certainly, clearly, definitely, inarguably, indisputably, surely, truly, undeniably, undoubtedly, and unquestionably.

The thief who did not revile Jesus made an eleventh-hour confession by acknowledging his sins. And because he did so before his impending death, Christ assured him of eternity in heaven.

If you think your prodigal’s sins are too great for him or her to make it into heaven, think again. If you believe your own sins will hold you back from entering the pearly gates, think again. It’s never too late to turn over the remainder of your life to the Lord. You find that assurance in the good thief’s last-minute plea for mercy. However, following Jesus a long time before your last day here on earth provides you with more opportunities to be used by God to bring glory to His kingdom.

All you have to do is pray a simple prayer, asking God to forgive you of your sins, and then confess with your lips that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. It really is that simple. God wants a relationship with you, so why not start following Him today.

Have a blessed day!

“…. there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said… ‘my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.” (Luke 15:20-22, 24)

His Watchful Eyes

His eyes run to and fro.

Recently while visiting a zoo, I photographed this tiger staring intently in my direction. His laser-focused eyes had the power to put me in either a state of anxiety or a state of wonderment.

I chose the latter but recognized that if the powerful feline had not been on the other side of a fenced enclosure, my fear factor would have kicked in. Without that barrier, I might have been his next meal.

His pointed stare brought to mind how God keeps watch over me. Those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus are comforted in knowing that our heavenly Father always has His eyes on us.

When a Christian experiences life’s lighter moments, God delights in watching that person's joy. Likewise, when that same believer walks through tough times, the Lord is with her, guiding her every step.

Every person, whether a Christian or not, will encounter evil because we live in a fallen world. God did not create such wickedness, yet He will be with us whenever we go through hurtful and horrendous situations. Some of those circumstances are of our own doing, and some are the consequences of someone else’s sinful deed. No matter where the fault lies, the Holy Spirit will guide you toward being whole again.

The omnipresent Father is aware of all the good and bad that occurs in the universe and on earth. (Proverbs 15:3 NKJV) He knows everything that has happened to you. He knows exactly how each has affected you. And He knows exactly how to mend you from the inside out. He is your Healer.

Always remember that He loves you. You are the apple of His eye.

Have a blessed day!

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” - 2 Chronicles 16:9a (NKJV)