The Earthly Chorus

September

Cloudy night

Profusions of cicadas celebrating

An undulating glee club- arpeggios, forte and piano

Crowds of crickets and katydids join in

Choristers of joyous staccato

Now peepers

Chanteuses with sustained soprano

Euphonious earth-bound chorale

Why do they sing so?

Could it be earth-bound need? Calling for mates? Warning off foes?

Not so- they pay homage to their Creator!

An inkling of the heavenly choir

Shall we join?

Times Jesus Prayed- Part 3

We have been looking at times Jesus prayed. Perhaps the saddest time that Jesus prayed was when he heard that his cousin, John (the Baptist), had been beheaded by King Herod.

It was a ridiculous story, really. This wicked king, who had stolen his brother’s wife, threw a big birthday party for himself. At the party, his new wife convinced her daughter to dance seductively for her stepfather.

He was so pleased with her dance that he promised to give her “anything she wanted”. What she wanted was what her mother had told her to want- the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. (Her mother was mad at John for telling Herod that it wasn’t lawful for the two of them to be married.)

Well, the King had made a promise in front of everyone at his party and he was embarrassed to say, “Not a good idea. I changed my mind.” So he had the dastardly deed done.

John’s disciples were at least allowed to come get his body and bury it.

When Jesus heard that John had been killed, he was very sad. So he did the natural thing a grieving person should do, pray. In Matthew 14:13, we see that he went to his “desert place alone”. That was his special prayer place where he and his Father could discuss the loss.

Interestingly, the crowds of folks who were following him to hear him preach and see him pray for the sick, missed him and went looking for him. It did not take long for his quiet place to be discovered and throngs of people surround him.

Do you know how he handled it? He preached, prayed for them, then fed them. (This is the story of the feeding of the 5,000.) This is true example of overcoming evil with good.

When are the times of sadness when you have felt compelled to pray? Can you think of times when you overcame some evil with a good act?

The Migrating Sandhill Cranes

It is early September but already I am hearing the sandhill cranes as they pause nearby from their long migration. There is a pond set in a big field on a farm just around the corner, and each year the sandhills drop by to rest on their journey from Canada to Florida.

In the 8 years that I have lived here, I have never seen the cranes. But I hear them every year. I know their call because I grew up in Florida and know them well from their winters there.

Sandhill cranes are large heron-ish birds and they like- sandy hills, and grassy fields. They have a crazy, noisy mating dance that very lucky people during Florida winters might see. However, right now, right here, they are only passing through- just stopping at a Maryland farm to rest.

I rejoice each year when I hear the cranes call. They are like old friends that only keep in touch once a year, but are appreciated nonetheless.

Do you have any friends like that? You only hear from them at Christmas, but that greeting card brings you joy each time.

All things have times and seasons, even friendships. A blessed few will stay close forever. Many friends will be close, then the Lord will move that friend off to a state far away. The affection will remain but the day-to-day closeness will have to wait until eternity. These things are in God’s hands and his will is good.

Do you have friends, near and far that you need to thank God for? Do they need to hear that you have thanked God for them?