I’ll Hold His Hand…and Fly.

For some unexplainable—and to some, maybe nonsensical— reason, I’m held spellbound by Canada Geese. I run to the window or stand on our balcony looking in awe when the honking flock flies overhead. I have a six-plate collectors set, Wings Upon the Wind I bought back in the 80s that commemorates their life cycle. And, I remember standing on Daytona Beach in 1978 pointing to several perfect V formations, shouting, “Look! They’re going home!” My friend’s response was flat-lined: “That really turns you on, doesn’t it.”

So he didn’t get it and I didn’t try to explain. I just felt sorry for him.

I realized that I tread on dangerous ground making such a comment and knowing that there are many…many people who have zero tolerance for them. I know…I know…I do not have my head in the sand! It’s what they leave behind that creates a festering hostility toward them.

Farmers despise them in their fields. Local residents are threatened by a nesting couple in the neighbouring pond. Sleeping subdivisions are awakened long before the alarm goes off by their unrelenting honking. And there’s no respect for city parks or golf courses or the danger their presence causes at airports.  “Love them or hate them, there sure are a lot of them…It’s hard to believe there was a time when these birds were on the brink of being wiped out in North America. Now, they’re overrunning our city parks, golf courses, and farm fields, crowding our national wildlife refuges, and causing hazards at airports. There are even concerns about public health and water quality from all those goose droppings” (Pat Leonard, in All About Birds Blog: Where Did All Those Canada Geese in Town Come From? September 17th, 2013).

And fair enough!

I don’t like stepping over—or worse, stepping in goose do-do. I’ll give you that. In fact our summer retreat at Muskoka Bible Centre is inundated with them prior to vacationers merging on the property. Although not there, their presence is definitely felt—literally! And when September arrives, they return en mass to claim their domain!

But for just a moment, can we set aside these annoying and troublesome thoughts? There’s something else I’d like you to consider about these creatures…

In the front of my second novel, Then Came a Hush, I included a poem entitled, Trust, and I used the Canada Geese as my inspiration.

Their honking is heard across the sky,
Stretching their wings
In perfect form they fly,
Never faltering.
I stand transfixed…
Do they know where they are going?
They follow without fear
They trust their leader, soaring,
Never doubting.
The time has come, a path they’ll take
Perhaps to the unknown
Resolved, a decision they have made,
Never questioning.
I’m lost in thought…
Can I learn from these created beings
And leave my nest and fly
Over mountains high, over paths unseen
My trust unwavering?
I ponder this thought; weigh its meaning:
Do I step beyond my box
Trusting my Creator to do the leading,
My hand in His?
I’ve made my choice
My fears aside, a trust is found
My wings are spread. I’m ready
The Creator leads me, safe and sound,
Loving unconditionally.
Following my Leader, I will soar high
Sometimes faltering, often doubting
And at times even questioning, Why?
But I’ll hold His hand…and fly.

It’s all about trust!

A good friend recently asked for prayer concerning a potential career change. She said, “If God’s not in it, I’m going to fail big time.” Her comment got me thinking…am I hot or cold—or worse, lukewarm—when it comes to seeking God and trusting Him for the little and the big things in my life?

I’m reminded in Psalm 138:8 that…

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.

The NIV translation of this verse says that the Lord has a purpose for me and the KJV version says the LORD will fulfill or perfect that which concerns me. That’s an incredible reality, one that cannot be shirked off!

But how does this work when I falter or doubt? Can I trust an unseen God to perfect His purpose for my life?

I’ve never received a written message from God, giving me explicit details of what His purpose is for me. Nor do I know how He goes about perfecting things that do concern me. I do know that there are some things that I would not choose, if I had my way, things that I’m sure we can all identify with: pain, disappointments, fears, and even doubts. And yet the Scriptures teach us that nothing will happen in our lives that will be a surprise to God. That’s made unmistakably clear in Psalm139:16:  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

He knew me before I was even made! So, it would make sense for me to trust Him, and foolish for me not to! Nothing has happened or will happen in my life—be it large or small—that God doesn’t already know about—and yes, this includes a multitude of mistakes that I’ve made! He knew about those long before they became part of my consciousness.

The youth of our church sing, Our God is an awesome God. He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an awesome God. Solid. Affirming. Reassuring. Yet, too often I forget this about God, and make decisions before seeking His wisdom. If God is awesome, wise, powerful and loving, why do I act so independently, only seeking Him as the last resort on the big stuff? And, besides,  who determines whether things are big or little? Harry Ironside was once asked, “Should I bring the little things to God?” His reply was, “My dear, everything is little to God!”

But if everything is little to God, then why do I so often fail to trust Him to perfect everything that concerns me?

Sobering question, don’t you think? Do you ever go there?