Observe

One day at the pond I was blessed to witness swimming lessons. Seeing they were headed past my bench, I readied my lens and captured each charming entrance. Seven members of a goose family floated into frame in perfect succession.

Geese exhibit organization in everything they do. They don’t risk, they follow and execute. Seagulls are another animal. They don’t have the luxury of a composed setting. Their plans are thrown to the wind all day long. I watched their improv from my beach chair and saw no seagulls in formation. The sea winds toss relentlessly, echoing the briny swells from which they come. A seagull may get to where she’s going or she may get whatever she gets. She must yield, accept and ride it out.

One afternoon, I prayed on a porch at the retreat house, high above the beach. A young man I knew had been in an accident and I was unusually moved to text every person who would pray. I continued my appeals for him from the porch rocker, my ears kissed with sounds of children on the beach and a gull calling from a cupola. The scripture I had received earlier from my spiritual director sat waiting on my lap. Suddenly a jet shattered my peace, rocketing sideways the narrow strip between my porch and the beach. I glimpsed the belly of the machine so closely it seemed I could reach out and touch it, but it was at once swallowed into the heavens, as impossibly as it came.  I smiled and realized the prayer soldiers had powerfully reached God’s ears.

It is a privilege to observe the structure, swirls, surges and surprises of God.

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ Colossians 4:2