"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, the birds of
the air, and they will tell you; Ask the plants of the earth, and they will
teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these
does not know that the hand of God has done this? In God’s hand is the life of
every living thing and the breath of every human being." Job 12:7-10

It was only 7:20 a.m. and I had already done several things on my to-do list. After running my son to school, I had completed one drive-through order at the pharmacy and was waiting in line at the next drive-through looking forward to the reward of my skim latte and cinnamon chip scone. It has truly been "one of those weeks." Each day has held more than it should. Each hour has been packed with meetings, phone calls, things to be accomplished.

As I pulled out of the long line of those waiting to be caffeinated, I turned toward an empty parking lot. That’s when I saw them. Probably twenty or more common gulls sat in rows on the asphalt.(My friend Bob Janssen, master-birder has reminded me many times there is no such thing as a "sea gull".) Not eating, not pecking away at stray particles that could be ingested, just sitting……all facing the same direction, as if waiting for a concert to begin. I slowed down(was this their intent?) and looked at them. In my slowing down I realized how my heart had been racing, how I was already on to the next thing, so disconnected from the present moment. Had I even tasted that first bit of scone I had so anticipated as my reward for all I had already done?

As I watched these common yet lovely white and gray birds, I thought of these words from Job. "Ask the animals and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the air and they will tell you." These parking lot birds had just preached a sermon without saying a word! Like Job, who tended to be self-centered and certainly tortured, I was flying around like I was the center of the universe. The message of Job is that the Holy One is the source of our life, breath, meaning and continues to renew us moment by moment, day by day. "Who among all these
does not know that the hand of God has done this?" reminds the writer of this prophetic book.

So, here I sit, writing this, wearing my humility coat. The gulls have stared me down. They pulled the rug right from under my really important feet. And to them I say…."thanks, I needed that!"

I pray you will take time this weekend to learn from the animals or the birds or the fish…………..have a wonderful weekend.