Our family from Russellville, Arkansas visited us in Lawrence over the Thanksgiving holidays. On Friday, we had an outing that took us along the "Farmers Turnpike" over to Lecompton, the territorial capital of Kansas, just west of here. Since neither of our vehicles could acomodate six people, we took both cars. The two nephews, Jake and Jon, were with Gay and me and their parents, Joy and Gregg, followed in their car.
Our route took us over the oxbow lake. As we crossed over it, I noticed a bald eagle sitting on a tree limb. I pointed out the window so Joy and Greg could see the eagle. They nodded and after a minute or so, we drove on. When we arrived in Lecompton, I said, "wasn't the bald eagle a surprise?" They replied, "what bald eagle?" They thought I was pointing at the lake.
On the return trip, we went back to the oxbow lake to see if the eagle was still there. When we arrived, there were two of them! They were calling to each other. Joy took this great photo of one of the pair.
There's an epiphany in this event. Sometimes, we have to revisit an experience in order to get the full effect. Often, the experience is twice as rich as the original when we look again. Even more so if we miss the point the first time! It's the same when we catch a glimpse of God's hand at work in our lives. If we'll look closely, it becomes a moment of wonder, an occasion of praise, an opportunity for transformation, an experience of love divine.
My friend, Deacon Patty Minx, and I had a Facebook chat this morning regarding the subject of Advent waiting. She pointed out that while we are waiting on God, God is also waiting on us. That, too, is a very helpful insight, and one that came because we revisited the matter of waiting, seeing past our own experience to God's experience of us. Moreover, it is moving to be reminded that Advent and Christmas have to do with God coming to us and arriving when we least expect it.
I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
he moved my soul to seek him, seeking me;
it was not I that found, O Savior true;
no, I was found of thee.