Nest Disrupted
Spring in Texas – if you know, you know. Yes, the bare trees slip into their robes of every shade of green. Dead lawns come back to vibrant life. Flowers wild and domesticated burst into full bloom and color.
But “spring” in Texas can also be a hodgepodge of remnants from other seasons. I’ve seen fresh snow blanketing fields of tulips. Shorts and flip-flops quickly come out of storage for the odd 90-degree afternoon that’s bound to pop up. And north winds can blow through at the drop of a hat, assuring that nobody in Texas packs away their winter coats and gear until almost summer.
One sure thing we Texans can count on is spring storms. Show me a Texan who hasn’t spent time during a tornado warning crouched down in a bathroom or laundry room, and I’ll show you a Texan who’s not in the habit of telling the truth!
There are few spectacles that rival the awesome display of God’s power like a wild, rumbling thunderstorm. One minute, you’re outside under a clear blue sky. Then an ominous cloud or two peers over the horizon, quickly multiplying in number and size as it rapidly blows toward you. That blue sky is devoured by a dark blanket, and the heavens brood with thunder that gets louder and louder. Lightning leads the way with blinding streaks that scrape the sky from top to bottom. Sprinkles brazenly enlarge into giant, pelting drops. The “ping” of tiny hailstones on windows becomes the pounding of golf ball-sized ice chunks, assaulting homes, cars, and all of exposed nature. It’s a tumultuous, often frightening event!
And then…there is still and quiet. Like rowdy friends who come for a surprise visit, toss things about and make lots of racket, and then just as quickly pack up and leave – the storm moves on.
Early on most mornings, you can find me at my desk with a hot cup of coffee delivered by sweet Mr. Vick, a stack of Bibles and journals, and a view that’s probably just as effective at controlling my blood pressure as those pills my doctor has me taking. This little corner outside my window has a handful of rose bushes that produce a lovely array of colorful flowers. There’s a tree that blossoms in the summer and offers shade and rest to the birds. And there’s a feeder on a shepherd’s pole that keeps my feathered friends well fed and happy. I’m constantly entertained by their songs, their jostling for position on the feeder, and their comings and goings.
But when the skies grow dark and the winds pick up, my birds disappear. I wonder about their nests – the safety of their babies and the possibility of their little homes being thrown to the ground and lost forever. When the storm is spent and gone, I eventually hear a chirp, soon joined by a choir of chirps and the flutter of many wings as my birds return. They’ve survived the storm, and they are hungry! Normalcy – for a bird’s life – has returned.
I’m a hard one to categorize during storms. One day, I’m the girl standing in the backyard, staring up into the sky, looking for that potential funnel cloud. On another day, I’m the girl hunkered down in the laundry room, colorful satellite images on the screen of my phone, heart beating just a little faster than normal.
Storms don’t just hit in the springtime in Texas. They’re a year-round challenge in the lives of anyone who has a pulse. Health, relationships, career – no area is exempt from the potential for trouble, and it can come on fast and unexpectedly. Disappointment, fear, betrayal, hopelessness, despair – all disrupt your nest with a ferocity that takes your breath away and leaves you frantically grasping for anything you can cling to just to survive.
When you find yourself being assailed by a torrential flood of adversity, remember that there’s a God Who knows your situation and is looking out for you. Speaking of the value in His eyes of even a common sparrow, Jesus said, “…Not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29b-31) The Father offers safety and protection. “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4a) And this same God has the power to stop the storms. As the disciples learned in Mark 4:39, all it takes are His words: “Quiet! Be still!”
You will see the sunshine again - with your faith and character strengthened and more awe and praise for the God Who sees you through. In His timing, peace will come. Persevere. Cling to Him. Trust Him.
Let these verses be your testimony: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love, and His wonderful deeds for men.” – Psalm 107:28-31
