Total Circus

I had a very weird day. My husband was doing some studying at home and the weather was gorgeous so he opened up the back door for some fresh air. But the puppy totally didn’t get the screen door thing. She kept trying to run outside, doing a full-speed face-plant against the screen. So to keep her from straining herself through the giant colander, Richie opened the screen too. Everything was fine until he finished his studying and went back to the office—without closing the door. I was working away at my computer, but I kept hearing a bird slamming itself against the windows. When our two cats started going berserk, I realized the thing was not slamming itself on the outside to get in, it was on the inside trying to get out!

I called my husband’s office to tell him there was a bird inside my house. And that I had really enjoyed living in this house. And how much I was going to miss it. He wasn’t in but his secretary had a good laugh.

I knew there was no way I could live with the bird all afternoon. I finally realized that if I wasn’t really going to move out (and it took awhile to make that decision), the bird was going to have to go. The dog and the two cats were all too willing to help me catch the thing, though I don’t think they were looking to set it free. The dog thought it was a cool new chew toy and the cats were looking sinisterly at each other, then back at the bird. I think each was trying to get dibs.

The poor bird was so confused. There were two stories of humongous, edge-to-edge windows but no way out. I opened the highest window I could get to and with broom in hand, proceeded to try to sweep the thing out the open window. I would give the bird a swoop with the broom, then a swoop to each of the other animals to get them to stop trying to help me. I think it must’ve looked like a lion taming act gone bad. What a total circus. One of the most frustrating parts was having a window wide open, yet still watching the goofy bird slamming itself against the closed ones.

Half an hour or so later, I finally managed to give the crasher the heave-ho out the window. The cats were sorely disappointed. I think they sulked all afternoon—although how can a person really tell if a cat is sulking?

The whole bird-herding incident made me wonder how many times I’ve frustrated my Heavenly Father that same way. He opens a beautiful window, but I smack my head against every closed one instead. I wonder how many gentle “broom nudges” he’s sent my way that I’ve fluttered and fought. We’re instructed in Ephesians 5:17, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Trying to find my own way is head-smashing foolishness. The next verse tells us to be filled with the Spirit—allowing him to influence our every thought and action, letting his way become our way. Being filled with his Spirit and lining up our lives with his Word is the only way to get rid of unnecessary fluttering, fighting and face-smacking folly.

I want to surrender to his will in every way, asking him daily to fill ever part of my life with his Holy Spirit. After all, who wants to be a bird brain?