Smart vs Dumb Squirrels

It is Spring and I will have to see the tragedy all over again unless there is a miracle! What am I talking about? There is a place where squirrels build a nest every year, it is wonderfully convenient being right next to the magnificent Magnolia with easy access to the broad, shiny leaves and twigs, but the ease of building also makes it an easy target for the Hawks that fly around looking for a nice tender squirrel baby to have for dinner to see and, as I have witnessed, rob. I have watched as the mama squirrel fought against the hawk only to see her babies carried away as I watched helpless to do anything but cry. I have thought how dumb those squirrels are, but I did see something today that made me think that at least some of them are smarter than I thought. Driving down Floyd Road, which is five lanes wide, I saw a squirrel crossing over all the traffic as if it didn’t exist, how? On the electrical wire that crosses over the road! He scampered across and never looked down, he got across! I thought how smart he was to think of that instead of getting flattened by thousands of cars passing over him until there was nothing left except a little piece of fur. I applied it to the way we should be when we are faced with the “traffic” of life (our cares, troubles, problems), we stand at the side of the road and because we are not looking up we don’t realize there is a wire, an escape route, over our head and we run headlong into the thick of everything, getting slammed until we disappear into nothingness! We are like the Bumblebee I talked about yesterday who when he is trapped in a glass tries to burrow out the bottom until it dies rather than knowing that if it only looked up it could fly free. Is that you? Are you standing on the side of the road of life about to head into the deadly traffic or are you trying to dig out of an impossible situation like the bee in a glass? Take a lesson from the squirrel! Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” In Exodus 14:16 the Children of Israel were trapped between the army of Pharaoh and the Red Sea they were stuck! But Moses lifted his head and looked up, he prayed and God told him to raise the staff in his hand and when he did, the sea parted and they walked across on dry land! Not only that, but as the enemy followed them into the waters, the waves came crashing back in on them and they drowned, right there! So you think because that was in the Old Testament it doesn’t apply to us today? Look at Acts chapter 12 and read of how Peter was awakened by an angel, while he was chained in prison, and released supernaturally because there were people praying for him! What about Paul and Silas in Acts chapter 16? They were in prison and began singing praises when an earthquake shook the jail and their chains fell off and they were free! Psalm 55:18 I call to God; God will help me. At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs—he hears, he rescues. My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger Even while thousands are lined up against me. God hears it all, and from his judge’s bench puts them in their place. Then we can say; “Thank you Lord, lesson learned!” Psalm 91 Say this: “God, you’re my refuge. I trust in you and I’m safe!” That’s right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You’ll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance.” Apologies to the hawk, I know he has babies that have to eat, I just don’t like seeing their shopping methods; also apologies to the squirrel nation for thinking they were all dumb, I applaud their balance as they jump from limb to limb high over-head and I am afraid I would fall off that wire, I would rather wait till God opens my Sea of Troubles so I can walk through, trouble free! Again tonight the lesson is that we need to learn to  “look up”!