One thing I really like about holidays is that I get to do my thing a little longer since I don’t have to dash off to work. After barn chores are done, I can return to my desk with the window cracked, listening to the world wake up and the sky to get bright. The picture above is the view from my desk. I look out onto the barn and keep tabs on my four-legged and two-legged friends. And then it happened…da da da daaaa!!!!!!!
I hear a squawk. I didn’t pay too much attention, chickens do that. But as I glanced up from my screen right in front of that red gate, a hawk had landed on Georgi Girl. Chicken down! Chicken down! She was a squawking, gobs of feathers were a flying, and I’m screaming to Tony downstairs – Hawk! Hawk! Hawk! I run down the stairs, Tony runs out the door, and the hawk flies off. Georgi Girl is nowhere to be found. I cried. I didn’t want to see that. Some things you just can’t unsee, like plumbers’ pants and a hawk on a chicken. We searched and searched for the hawk and for Georgi Girl, not because I thought she’d be alive, but because I was determined that that hawk was not going to enjoy his spoils. We found neither.
We trek out of the fields and back to the barn to count my chick-chicks. I’ve got two black, two white, one red (may Susan rest in peace) and Ethel. I counted four. I went into the barn and back in the corner behind the wheelbarrow I could hear a peep-peep. One more found. Now I have all five. And just at that moment, I see another movement behind the wheelbarrow. It’s Georgi Girl!!!!! I cried. With a little food, I coaxed her out. Miraculously, she was not injured. She had only a huge bald spot on her back. When he swooped in to get her, he got all feathers!
The whole thing happened so fast. Chickens are smart, they know how to protect themselves and she was only out in the open for a second. But that’s all it took. One second of letting her guard down and the predator had swooped in. Georgi Girl and Black Girl hid out in the barn all day. The other four hid out under a tree in the backyard all day. They all sought shelter, a safe place to reside until the drama and likely trauma subsided.
The whole time we’re searching for Georgi Girl, all I could think about is that it happened so fast. She let her guard down for just one minute! But, doesn’t the Bible warn us of the same thing? Don’t be caught unawares? I don’t know about you, but with the speed of life, sometimes my confused priorities (more oft than not), and the more likely, my abject complacency, I could easily be caught unaware. I can be just like Georgi Girl who had gotten a little comfortable out in the open and let her guard down. She got a little careless. But Jesus tells us to be ready.
“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36
Here, He’s warning us straight up. Watch out! Be on guard! Don’t get mired in this life! Don’t get caught in the trap! Be alert – the world needs more lerts! Make yourself strong! Be prepared! For what? For His return!!
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:25-27
Jesus told His disciples, be on guard, look out, don’t be dulled by drink, don’t be foolish, look for the signs, I’m coming back! Do we do that? I mean spiritually. Are we eating meat or still drinking milk? Are we growing and maturing in the Spirit? Are we preparing for His return, for His restoration, or are we too dulled by this life on earth? Are we faithfully working to tell others of His return, redemption and restoration? Are we ourselves ready for His return, His redemption and His restoration? His return is a scary thought for some folks. We prefer not to think about it. Maybe because we doubt His word and that scares us? Maybe because we don’t doubt His word and that scares us? We must come face-to-face with the Father now, before his return, in order to be redeemed and restored when He returns. We mustn’t be caught unaware. But, look at the promise He gives!
“So when these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up, for your salvation is near!” Luke 21:28
Don’t be afraid of His return, be prepared! Stand straight and look up – be on the lookout for Him, don’t be complacent, don’t be caught unaware. Jesus spoke these words 2,000 years ago and we have been awaiting His return ever since. We know not when. My lifetime, your lifetime, who knows? God. But, as we wait for His return, we must live like redeemed, restored and rescued people, because we are.
I want to be ready when Jesus comes
I want to be ready when Jesus comes
One day the Lord’s gonna crack the sky
And the dead in Christ shall rise;
I want to be ready when Jesus comes
No man knows the day or the hour
When the Lord will surely come
That’s why you need to get your house in order
Don’t let Him catch you with your work undone;
You’ve got to get ready, oh yes, when Jesus comes
Dottie Peoples