As I sit back and relax for some quiet time of prayer and renewal, a small keepsake on my bookshelf catches my eye.  It is a tiny carved figure of a sparrow.  Its wings of tree bark rest still at the sides of its round body.  I'm reminded of the woman who gave it to me and the story behind the gift.  "God answered my prayers," she had said, arriving late for her appointment at the university writing center where I worked as her tutor.  "He did?" I asked.  "Yes," Marcia replied.  "I was rushing over here from across campus, afraid I would be late because I was trying to get so much done today.  I just seem to rush and rush and never catch up, and I have really been struggling with all the stress of school, work and raising my girls.  I was obsessing over what seemed like problems with no solutions, going round and round, weighing all the options, asking God for direction and guidance, searching frantically for His answers, but none seemed to come. 

 

"As I entered this building, a sparrow flew out of nowhere and nearly flew into my head!  It was trapped inside the vestibule and darted about in a panic, bashing itself against the windows, trying to get out.  As I opened the door again, it bumped up against a pane of glass and fell to the floor stunned, its wing barely aflutter.

 

"I reached into my backpack and pulled out my plastic travel mug, then scooped the bird up into it.  I was going to put it out on the grass, but as I approached the open door, it revived and took off, soaring furiously and freely into the trees where it disappeared from sight.

 

"As I closed the door, I felt sure this was God's way of answering my prayers.  Like that bird, I had been bashing about, frantically trapped by my attempt to fix everything in my life, solve all my problems, figure it all out.

 

"My obsessing was only adding to my confusion and sense of helplessness.  I was trying to force my own will, instead of trusting God's.  I was trying to stay in control and exhausting myself, hurting myself like that stunned bird.  But now I realize that I need to let God scoop me up in the hollow of His loving hand, open the door and set me free.  Instead of struggling, I must simply let go and trust Him completely."

 

"God has indeed answered your prayers," I said, and thanked Marcia for the lesson she taught me by sharing her story.

 

 

Sounds like good advice for busy times! 

 

Peace, 

 

Pastor Carol