Ruffled Feathers

"(Jesus said) Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." - Matt. 7:24-25

Last weekend Tom and I made a very impromptu trip to Port Aransas. Truthfully, it may not have been the best weekend to go with the colder weather, the wind gusts, and the little fact that I had been running a high fever the previous twenty-four hours. But... I begged Tom not to cancel the plans because I was sure it was just some bug that would be short-lived.

Well, Friday morning came and my fever was down (somewhat), or I should say it was down enough to convince Tom we could go ahead and drive down. We threw a few provisions into the truck along with jeans, sweatshirts, and windbreakers and hit the road!

I love the beach! Absolutely LOVE it! Always have, and since we only get to go a couple times a year, I never miss an opportunity for the adventure.

The coast did not disappoint! Yes, it was quite breezy and a little on the chilly side, but the sun was shining, the whitecaps were breaking, and all was right with the world as I sat in my beach chair huddled next to Tom with a warm blanket draped around us.

Going this time of year is quite different from our summer beach trip to Galveston with the family. Galveston means a ton of time in the water, playing with grandkids, visiting with one another, snacking. This trip to Port A was a lot more chill, if you'll forgive the pun. We just sat and watched the waves. Doing that gives you lots of time to think... to observe.

At one point we broke out the loaf of bread we had brought to feed the seagulls. There was only one, but it didn't take long before the others took notice of the free lunch sign and came to join in. After they had their fill, approximately fifteen or so of the birds hunkered down around us to soak in the sun and fend off the wind.

It was a curious thing to watch them. The gulls faced directly into the wind, tucked their feet underneath them, and nestled down into the warm sand... that is, all except for one. (There's always one in every crowd, isn't there?!) The one who decided against the group's advice to face into the wind seemed determined to ride the hefty breeze out backside first!

It was hilarious to watch. While the other birds' feathers remained sleek, unmoved by the wind's fury, this little Lone Ranger had his entire back half reaching for the sky! His feathers were literally tiny sails, pitching him forward, tossing him off balance left and right.

I couldn't help thinking about Jesus' parable contrasting the wise man and the foolish man from his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7.

As Christian believers, our faith grounds us. It is the anchor, the stabilizing force when difficulties come, and, unfortunately, in this fallen world, difficulty comes to all of us at one time or another.

I can remember soooo many times of stress in my personal life through the years where my initial reaction was to freak out, to wring my hands in worry, to go first to the thought of how I was going to fix the problem. In effect, all I was doing was turning away from the one place I could weather the storm, and from the only One who could bring me safely through it.

I was that foolish seagull.

I have learned a great deal more since then... about faith, and trust. I'm no longer afraid to face difficulties when they come...

because I know the God who harnesses the wind.