Hawk In The Trees
My family and I were bird watching in our back yard one day and saw an interesting sight. We live in the country and my husband has made our place like a Club Med for birds. There are countless feeders and a spectacular variety of birds who drop in on seemingly rotating schedules. The redheaded Woodpeckers and Blue jays seem to compete for the same time slot. The Woodpeckers are more aggressive, so the Blue jays usually don't challenge them. We have Sparrows, and brown House wrens, Yellow Finches and of course Robins. Huge black birds swoop in and command the area, and the doves are cooing on the ground. There are also Red-winged black birds and a host of other birds I don't recognize.
This particular day, we saw a shadow darken the yard and watched the birds all scatter to the surrounding trees. We wondered what caused the commotion, when just about that time we saw a large hawk circling the tree line. He made several sweeps and then settled in the branches of a dwarf apple tree. We watched as he seemed to disappear into the branches and become one with the tree, and shortly we just forgot he was there.
Apparently the other birds forgot about him as well. He sat there, silent, motionless as the birds gradually began to repopulate the yard. About twenty minutes into this event many birds had gathered as before and were busy eating the seeds, thistles, peanuts and suet. Suddenly the hawk left the seclusion of the apple tree and took flight. He did not head directly for the birds; no, he flew out toward the perimeter, away from them. The startled flocks scattered to the air and as they tried to escape, many of them flew right into his path. Of course, unfortunately for one bird, it was on the menu for lunch!
As usual, the Holy Spirit used this scenario to demonstrate a life lesson. And, of course, as usual, I did not get this great spiritual revelation at the time. It was only months later as my husband and I were on the deck watching birds again that we began to recall and comment on the incident.
What Father God seemed to be saying to me is that the adversary operates much like this hawk. He may swoop in and get us all rattled, but he operates best when we forget he is there. He can hide himself in something we are familiar with or accustomed to and wait until we get comfortable and forget his presence.
We can be about the business of life, when suddenly he launches an attack. He doesn't usually approach from the direction we expect, but he flanks us and catches us on the fly, if we are not on guard. I Pet 5:8 tells us to be sober and vigilant because the devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
We are not to be afraid of him, we have authority over him, in Jesus name, but we are not to forget he is looking for an off-guard, frightened, inattentive victim. Let us not be paranoid, but walk circumspectly, tuned in to the Holy Spirit and be watchful.
This particular day, we saw a shadow darken the yard and watched the birds all scatter to the surrounding trees. We wondered what caused the commotion, when just about that time we saw a large hawk circling the tree line. He made several sweeps and then settled in the branches of a dwarf apple tree. We watched as he seemed to disappear into the branches and become one with the tree, and shortly we just forgot he was there.
Apparently the other birds forgot about him as well. He sat there, silent, motionless as the birds gradually began to repopulate the yard. About twenty minutes into this event many birds had gathered as before and were busy eating the seeds, thistles, peanuts and suet. Suddenly the hawk left the seclusion of the apple tree and took flight. He did not head directly for the birds; no, he flew out toward the perimeter, away from them. The startled flocks scattered to the air and as they tried to escape, many of them flew right into his path. Of course, unfortunately for one bird, it was on the menu for lunch!
As usual, the Holy Spirit used this scenario to demonstrate a life lesson. And, of course, as usual, I did not get this great spiritual revelation at the time. It was only months later as my husband and I were on the deck watching birds again that we began to recall and comment on the incident.
What Father God seemed to be saying to me is that the adversary operates much like this hawk. He may swoop in and get us all rattled, but he operates best when we forget he is there. He can hide himself in something we are familiar with or accustomed to and wait until we get comfortable and forget his presence.
We can be about the business of life, when suddenly he launches an attack. He doesn't usually approach from the direction we expect, but he flanks us and catches us on the fly, if we are not on guard. I Pet 5:8 tells us to be sober and vigilant because the devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
We are not to be afraid of him, we have authority over him, in Jesus name, but we are not to forget he is looking for an off-guard, frightened, inattentive victim. Let us not be paranoid, but walk circumspectly, tuned in to the Holy Spirit and be watchful.
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