This morning I chanced to look out my bedroom window. Water splashed up from the little “pond” in our back yard, as if a fish slapped its surface. A water feature which worked once upon a time before we moved here sits smack dab in the center. Now it is a nonfunctioning fountain of gross.
It had fish in it once, my neighbor says. It doesn’t now.
Since we moved into the house, “the pond,” as our former owners called it, holds a bit of terror to me. What are the chances a snake might want a siesta in the cool water. It fills with rain, then sings with a toad chorus loud enough to wake us up at night. I’m alway nervous of little children falling into it.
My older grandkids picture a hot tub there someday.
Younger ones want to sail sticks and throw rocks in it. And the smallest grandkids seem to love balancing on its edges. Of course.
What it needs for repairing is drowned under other more pressing things needing to be fixed.
We’ve tried covering the pond. That worked for about a week until the cover blew off. It left gapping holes even I could fall through. The pond is shaped like a big bowl, rounded on the inside. We’ve tried to make a way for kids to climb onto something so they could get out if they fell in. That hasn’t worked well either.
And so, my husband has come up with creative ways to drain it, and yes, his first attempts at syphoning were a little uncouth, but the method has grown in sophistication and wisdom since.
So, when I saw the splash from my window, I figured a branch or something fell in. But then I saw another splash and yet another.
“Phil,” I called, “something fell in the pond and can’t get out.”
While I got my shoes on, he ran to do water rescue. I got outside in time to see him lower a plank of wood into the water, and catapult some water logged creature out.
“What is it?” I asked.
A squirrel looking more like a drowned rat high-tailed, or more like drag-raced himself out of there. I picture that squirrel paying homage to my husband for saving his life, dropping a prize acorn as thanks, but I’m not holding my breath for it.
That squirrel has no idea, or conception of what happened or why. One minute he was drowning and the next running away. But one thing was certain, his life was spared.
What are the chances I would happen to look out my window at that particular moment and see a couple of splashes that saved that squirrel from drowning? And what are the chances my husband would be there at the right time with a plank of wood? And, why should that little guy get a second chance at life?
Questions that plague us as humans.
Aren’t these questions that plague us as humans too? Is God truly involved in the details of our lives? How much and to what extent? And why is it we are ready to give Him credit for the good stuff, but not so much for the bad?
- He consents to the sparrow’s fall. Matt 10:29
- He clothes the lily of the valley. Matt. 6:28
- He feeds the hungry. Psalm 146:7
- He counts the hairs on our head. Luke 12:7
- He counsels with His eye on us. Psalm 32:8
- He gives sleep to the weary. Psalm 127:2
- He protects those in danger. Psalm 121:7
- He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Psalm 50:10
- He lifts the downtrodden. Psalm 147:6
- He feeds the lions. Psalm 104:21
- He tells the mountain goat when to give birth. Job 39:1
- He counts our tossing and keeps our tears in His bottle. Psalm 56:8
- He gives rain to the parched ground. Psalm 107:35
I can’t understand all the why’s, how’s, what’s, or where’s of a Sovereign All Mighty God. One Who is All Knowing, All Powerful, Ever Present and All Good sometimes collides with my finite reasoning. But I know He is all He claims. I know He cares about the details of my life and of those I love dearly.
“Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent.” Matthew 10:29 CSB
When life feels as if we are treading in the muck
When life feels as if we are treading in the muck, and wonder if God sees and cares about all the stuff that happens, think of the number of hairs on your head, the lily opening its petals, or the hungry lion and his prey. Think of the rain that waters the earth, the birthing mountain goat, and the falling sparrow. Then you might also remember a little splashing squirrel, and be assured He knows every detail.
How has God recently reminded you of His ever watchful eye?
Discussion
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