Red Birds and Red Trucks

/ Gail Johnson

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust (Psalm 91:2 KJV).

Cardinal close upLast week, Lulu and I happened upon a cardinal trapped in a neighbor’s small chicken coop. He was flying from side to side, frantically searching for an exit.  The temperature was rising, and he refused to calm down and rest. We watched as he tried again to free himself only to land breathlessly on the ground. The way he was behaving, he wouldn’t last long.

I exited the truck—leaving the door ajar—and walked to the coop with Lulu in tow. I opened the cage door and began shooing the chicken while coaxing the bird the best way I knew how. After several minutes, Mr. Cardinal realized the door was open and flew the coop. Literally. Ha!

I locked the door on the chicken coop, climbed into my truck, and cranked up the AC. Yes, it was 80 degrees. I needed the air. Saving birds while shooing chickens is hard work, people. 🙂

Click to Tweet: Saving birds while shooing chickens is hard work! #devotional #memoir

20180225_134919When Lulu opened her door, she quickly stepped back to the rear door. “Mama, the bird is sitting in my seat.”

Sure enough, the bird was sitting in her seat panting with cold air blowing through his tuft of feathers. He wasn’t in a hurry to leave. He had discovered air conditioning was pretty cool. 😉

Click to tweet: He had discovered air conditioning was pretty cool. #nature #memoir

I retrieved my phone from the console and took a picture20180225_135418_001. I was sure he would fly. Instead, he just sat there. Enjoying the air. I turned the middle vent toward him, and he turned his head as if to allow the breeze to blow on his face. I took more photos as he rested. Twelve, in all. After his breathing slowed, he sat for a few minutes more and then flew to a nearby fence.

Later, I thought about the spiritual significance of that incident. I often flutter about working to free myself from worrisome circumstances that capture my attention. The more I try, the weaker I become. I often miss my Rescuer standing at the door offering to free me. The pictures of the cardinal remind me that I need to fly to Father’s presence and let the refreshing breeze of Holy Spirit restore me.

Click to tweet: I need to fly to Father’s presence and let the refreshing breeze of Holy Spirit restore me. #devotional #hope

Dearest Lord, when I am fluttering about without an escape, help me to focus on you who stands at the door to save me. Help me to fly into your arms and rest under the refreshing breeze of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen

Have you ever gained a spiritual insight from nature?

26 thoughts on “Red Birds and Red Trucks”

  2. What a beautiful experience and beautifully-written story, Gail. It gave me much comfort and peace. That’s so wonderful that you got to experience this. Cardinals are one of my favorite birds, if not my favorite ones. Yesterday late afternoon, we had five deer trot through our front yard to our back yard, hop the fence and bound off for the tree-covered hill. It was a wonderful sight. 🙂

  3. Wonderful spiritual metaphor, Gail! God really does use nature to tell us about Himself. I think about Romans 1:20. One of my favorites is the beauty of the sky when it is a clear blue. And the red of a sweet Cardinal’s feathers!

  4. ” I often flutter about working to free myself from worrisome circumstances that capture my attention. The more I try, the weaker I become. I often miss my Rescuer standing at the door offering to free me.” Great point! So true…we try in our own might while He’s waiting all the while if we’ll only lean on Him! 💗

  5. I love your analogy, Gail. Yes, nature can teach us lessons about relating to God if just stop and watch. I’ve learned many things from watching birds over the years–they are great teachers sent from heaven. xo

  6. Hi Gail I love this story and how nature reminds us how We can go to our Father and rest in Him and revives us to keep walking in Love and do His will ! Thank you for sharing and it’s a beautiful picture❤️

  7. This is a wonderful devotional piece about our Rescuer. Yes, dear Gail, I often enjoy insights through nature. God must be delighted when we notice His parables written in creation.
    Blessings ~ Wendy

    • Thank you, Nicole! So glad it helped. I often climb into my “mind palace” and fly about seeking solutions for my problems when the Lord is waiting patiently with my answers. I often need a visual. LOL. Thanks for stopping by! 😊

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