Escape Artists
Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Proverbs 4:26 (NLT)
As a child growing up on the Catlin Hollow Road, we had relatives that lived at the other end of this country road. When we would go to see them, we carefully watched as the car pulled into the driveway. “Where are the peacocks?” we asked with fear in our voices. They chased and pecked at us as they screamed. Needless to say, we admired these beautiful birds from a safe distance. Twila Bennett (All God’s Creatures) has her own story about these escape artists.
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The pop of turquoise on the iron fence surprised me. Despite the green leaves around him, the brilliant feathers of a male peacock stood out clearly on a fence that surrounded the property in front of me. On the ground behind him were several more males and a few females. I watched them from my car as each bird followed the one ahead, flying onto the fence, then hopping down to the ground on my side.
There was some scurrying around as everyone followed the leader. The truant peacocks then bustled over to the woods on the side of the property alongside a busy road, running in a line over stumps and brush. It was as if they were competing an Olympic obstacle course for birds. I laughed as I watched but hoped the owner would find them soon. The country is not the place for peacocks.
As I watched them hop around the woods, I wondered when they might figure that this adventure could mean trouble. Missing dinner. Missing a warm bed in a barn, Rescue would sound terrific in a few hours when it started getting dark and the coyotes howled.
I lost sight of them as I turned onto the road. That’s when I noticed that the fence they had gone over was beside a gate—a wide-open gate that headed straight back to the barn. Silly birds!
Doesn’t if feel good to be scooped up from a physically dangerous situation? Relief floods our body. We sink into the arms of our rescuer, letting our heart slow down. I can get myself into some negative spiritual situations just as easily as those peacocks hopped the fence. Why do I follow my own way without seeing the path that God prepared for me?
Without wandering around in our own deserts and batting the enemy, we would not know how desperately we need Someone to rescue us.
—Meredith McDaniel
Father God, thanks for Your willingness to lead us through each day—even if the life-lesson is taught by watching peacocks. Your Love protects us as we stay on the path You have chosen. AMEN.