The Poor Budgie

Many years ago

We owned a budgie.

One day said budgie

Got out of its cage.

I was upstairs at the time

And my eldest had a friend over.

What a commotion!

I thought something awful had happened.

Well,

I suppose it was awful for the bird.

The poor thing,

Having been born in captivity,

Could not fly straight.

It kept running into things.

Once I had everyone calmed down

We got a lightweight towel,

Or maybe it was a tea towel,

Tossed it over the budgie

And gently put it

Back in the cage.

I said

The next time the children caused

That much ruckous

It better be

A condor flying around.

Isn’t that the way of it?

Sometime relatively minor happens

And we lose it.

I know I’ve been guilty

Time and time and time again.

So, what’s the answer?

I suppose

I need to step back

And think it through.

Is whatever is happening urgent?

Does it need immediate attention?

Even so,

Panicking will not help.

Can it be rectified simply and quickly?

Well then

I suppose that’s what I should do.

Can it be ignored?

That would save

A lot of time and energy.

And in the event that

I can’t do anything about it,

No matter how major…

Well,

I guess I best just move on.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

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The Real Deal

This past weekend

Our city

Hosted an airshow.

When I heard a plane

Fly over our house

I was out the door

Like a shot.

As is often the case,

I just couldn’t see it…

And the noise it made

Was no help at all.

So,

It got me thinking.

Am I like those jets?

Loud.

Attracting attention.

Yet nothing much to see…

Unless you happen to be

In just the right place

At just the right time.

I want to be

So much more than that.

The only way

Others will be inspired

Is if they see me,

The real deal.

Not simply hear

A whole lot of noise.

I’ve seen acrobatic performances

And they’re amazing.

But only hearing the rumble

Is nothing but frustrating.

And that pretty smoke

That creates pictures in the sky.

Well,

In the end,

It doesn’t mean much of anything.

The wind comes up

And blows it away.

Is that what my life is like?

Will the winds blow away

The pretty pictures?

Or

Will I make a lasting impression

That challenges others

To create more than

Noise and pretty smoke?

Faithful Flyer

Courageous.

Faithful.

Strong.

Insightful.

Exemplary.

Tenderhearted.

Friend.

Today

I met a dear lady

For coffee.

We only had an hour

To catch up.

And yet

What a great hour!

I am blessed to know

This faithful flyer.

Recently

She has been buffeted

By some stormy weather.

But

She remains strong.

Gliding

When she is too tired

To flap her wings.

She knows she will make it

Because she has confidence

The One who sustains her

Will never let her go.

Thank you for being such a great example.

…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4 NIV).

Increasing Measure

Peace. Balance. Freedom.

Connectedness. Worth. Purpose.

Contentment. Hope. Love.

Recently

I began to realize

That those who don’t adhere

To the Flight Manual

Speak often of these things.

And not always with longing.

They seem to have attained them.

At least they seem certain of

How to do so.

Yet,

Do I?

Can people look at me

And others who follow

The Flight Instructor

And say,

“Wow! They’ve really got something.”

“Look how high they fly.”

If not,

I have to ask myself why.

I should exemplify these traits

For all to see.

May I do so

In increasing measure.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (2 Peter 1:3 NIV).

Always Cherished

Twenty-seven years ago,

A lifelong dream became reality.

David Nathanial Nickel

Arrived on the scene.

His entry wasn’t as expected,

But he did, indeed, arrive

Safe and sound.

Ever since I was a little girl

I’d wanted to be a mommy.

And I was!

What joy!

What blessing!

What responsibility!

My heart took wings

When I realized,

“We have a little boy.”

Did I do everything right?

Excuse me

While I shake my head

And roll my eyes…

And perhaps

Burst into fits of laughter.

Was I always

Patient, loving, and kind?

I wish!

However,

There were

Many wonderful moments

Along the way.

Now,

Childhood is but a distant memory.

You,

My son,

Are a man.

I will be forever thankful

For the times we fly together.

But

Your own flight plan

Is before you.

Fly boldly

Into the wonderful future

I’m sure awaits for you.

You will always be loved.

Always be cherished.

I’m so glad there’s you!

he will bless those who fear the LORD—small and great alike. May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children (Psalm 115:13-14 NIV).

Cute and Harmless?

Yesterday

I was shopping with my son.

We were hunting for

That perfect card and gift

For his brother’s birthday.

As can happen,

We discovered

Something we would enjoy.

A cute figurine with black wings.

Today

I was giving it some thought.

I don’t believe there is

Anything wrong,

Anything evil,

About the figurine.

However,

Such is not the case

With everything that appears

Cute and harmless.

It reminded me that

I must be on the lookout.

Some things

Are much more dangerous

Than they look.

I must exercise

Wisdom and discernment.

I do not want to

Fall victim to deception.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception (Proverbs 14:8 NIV).

Sister Mine

Sometimes

When I’m flying

I look ahead.

I look up.

And there they are

The ones who are

Making steady progress.

They’ve learned lessons

I have yet to learn.

They have a determination

And steadfastness

I admire greatly.

Through blue skies

And torrential downpours,

They fly on.

They may not know

Where the Flight Plan leads,

But they refuse to deviate from it.

Diligent.

Unassuming.

Faithful.

What an example!

Today

Was my sister’s birthday.

She is such a flyer.

And I write these words

With her in mind.

Thank you for showing me

The Way,

Sister Mine.

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV).

I am Blessed

I decided at the last minute

To attend the writers conference.

Then I decided to volunteer

To be a front door greeter.

I can smile and say, “Welcome!”

Well, those were just a couple of things

That led to what I call a divine coincidence.

When my new friend

Rolled up to the bottom of the steps

In her wheelchair,

Wondering how to get in,

The reason I was there

Began to unfold.

You see

I thought I was there

To make professional connections,

To pitch my book ideas.

While I did that,

It soon became evident

Those were merely

The secondary reasons

For my presence.

I was privileged to assist

My new friend

Throughout the weekend.

In so doing,

I made not one,

But three connections

That will forever

Change my life.

I am honoured.

I am humbled.

I am blessed.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV).

I’ve Flown Away

I will be at the Write! Canada conference until Saturday night. I will post again Sunday or Monday.

Keep Soaring!

Toward the Skies

If I really was a bird,

I might fancy myself an eagle.

I wouldn’t mean to,

But I’d likely consider

Some other flyers

Of lesser value.

And birds that couldn’t fly?

Well,

Don’t even get me started.

Those birds who tried

To reach the heights,

But always failed?

An inconvenience at best.

More likely,

An annoyance.

Descend to their level

And teach them

How to soar?

Don’t be silly.

I have more important

Things to do…

Or do I?

Recently,

An individual has entered

Our lives.

Oh,

He only shows up

Now and then.

But I have to take

A careful look

At my heart.

Do I consider him an inconvenience?

An annoyance?

Or is he a flyer

Who only skims the ground?

Does he even know

How to fly?

And my responsibility…

To soar off

To more important things,

To the heights I love?

Not hardly.

I must realize

I just may be the one

Who points him

Toward the skies.

…whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me [Jesus] (Matthew 25:45, NIV).