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Rare sighting
by Guest blogger

3.10.2016
|
Post

Millerpost0311_400 There they were, flocked on the shoal, sea gulls, terns, egrets, herons, and loveliest and most interesting to my eyes: white pelicans! As they flapped their wings, I noticed for the first time their under-wings were a marvelous display of ebony.

Just then, I wished I were an ornithologist so that I knew what I was seeing and why the pelicans were flapping wings and lifting off just slightly as if dancing on the shimmering water.

I edged to the small bridge to get a better angle and was drawn instead to an old man fishing.

I was struck by his patience and perseverance despite his obvious frailties. I thought he had a fish from the tautness of his line. When asked, he replied that his gear was caught on a submerged rock.[bctt tweet=”I couldn’t take my eyes off him because I was witnessing a rare sight in our hurry-up society.”]

He painstakingly turned to reach his cane and patiently pulled his line in by hand and wound it around. I didn’t wait to see the result of the bent man’s work, but I noted his leather-like forearms, rusted pliers, taped up rods, but newer reels.

Why I couldn’t take my eyes off him? I think because I was witnessing a rare sight in our hurry-up society.

Questions for you to think about:

  • What rare sights have you observed that have given you pause?
  • What caused you to reflect on your life? Your faith journey?
  • What “rocks” are in your life that you need to get untangled from?
  • What does “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a) makes you think of?

Barbara Miller serves on the churchwide executive board. She lives in Washington, Mich.

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Photo: C.C. Chapman, used with permission, Creative Commons

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