Eastern Screech Owl
John Miller
01/18/21
- Windstream Mail
R E F L E C T I O N S Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith - 1/18/21 _________________________________________________________ "O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you." - Ps. 69:5 |
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The eastern screech owl is so small it could fit in the palm of your hand and so camouflaged you could walk right past it without seeing it. The only reason I saw this one is because I was told where to look and the morning sun was illuminating it. Under normal conditions it would have been in the dark recesses of a cavity in this tree. As a result, these small owls go unnoticed even though they are fairly common. Hiding serves them well. All of us are pretty good at hiding also. We allow some parts of our behavior to be noticed while we hide other aspects of our lives. What if every word we have ever spoken were broadcasted? What if those actions we so desperately try to hide were shown to all? What if our every thought was written down and given to everyone to read? What if our true motives behind every deed were known? In other words, what if our masks were removed so everyone could see who we really are? And what if all these things were revealed to one another while we worshipped? I suspect that most of us would not look so pious, would we? I suspect that then repentance would become the norm, not the exception, among Christians. But of course that isn't the norm because, like the screech owls, we are experts at hiding. Perhaps we need to start reminding ourselves and others that there are no secrets as far as God is concerned. He is a witness to all we try to hide. He knows the depth of our sinfulness and the fact that we try to hide it only adds to that depth. Better to confess than to pretend. Better to repent than try to hide from the one who can see into the darkness. It might help if we remembered that God heals only those who admit they are sick. - John
