The bird bush

The Message (Bible in contemporary language) speaks of God's extravagant love. (See the very last verse of II Corinthians)



I have found comfort in thinking of God's love as always present, as intelligent and good, as wise and caring. I have been humbled in thinking of God as Love taking the initiative in the lives of humankind -- the kind of love that runs to meet us when we're bruised or battered or discouraged, and looking for something more than sympathy.

But extravagant? I had to think about this. And yes, from what I've learned of God's love, it does go beyond the bounds of what's reasonable. It is consistently more generous than I feel I deserve.

There's a bush outside my office window which in the fall was full of little brown berries. The birds spent several days eating it clean. Even now in January, sparrows, juncos, a pair of cardinals and a blue jay all take turns flitting in and out of this bush. I love watching the birds.

It finally dawned on me that God has given me this bush full of birds to cheer my work day. It is a gift. Once I quit taking such lively activity for granted, it became an expression of God's extravagant love. Who else could, or would, think to give me a bird bush?

One day they vacated it simultaneously in all directions. A split second later a hawk landed on the bush. How thrilling to see him so close. He may not have been thrilled, as he didn't catch anything that time.

Another day an antlered buck came walking around the corner of the condo, and paused to look in my window. He wheeled and disappeared when I looked up in amazement. Wow!

It can be awe-inspiring to consider these as little love-notes from an extravagant God.

How do you find God's extravagance in your day?

The gift of giving

Helene's son Kenny on his horse Cowboy

- about 50 years ago

A favorite song by Peter Link says God’s gifts are given generously to each of us. That each of us has at least one specialty: perhaps patience, kindness, generosity, mothering, fathering, teaching, healing. That these gifts are God’s love in action.

He goes on to say that sharing these gifts goes on endlessly, because the giving of our goodness to one another is never done!

Don’t you love this sense of purpose unconfined!

My friend Helene celebrated her 93rd birthday earlier this week. She thought nothing would give her more joy than to have her favorite birthday pie, lemon meringue, surrounded by her best friends. So she prepared two tables with crocheted placemats and her fine china for this select group of women. I was honored to be included as one of four not from her generation.

As we ate, blue jays, cardinals, goldfinches, and hummingbirds provided constant entertainment for those facing the windows.

The conversation was lively and stimulating. At one point I wished I had one of those new Flip camcorders to record some of the local history being recounted.

These vibrant women were gifts to me that day. They included a retired school teacher, a retired business owner, a woman still active in her family business in her ninth decade, a retired mayor, as well as those who had been simply devoted to their families, now grown and flown.

They stay active, interested in their communities and their neighbors. Their lives say they understand that the giving goes on endlessly, because the gifts God has given us are always fresh and new. They never wear out, never deplete, never deprive or compete.

Each of us has our special gifts that need to be shared.

God's love in action

There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, the same Source, the same Giver. I was listening to these words by Peter Link this morning. He adds insightfully, “These gifts are God’s love in action.”

I thought of the board meeting last night. It’s a good board. I’m happy to be part of it. The members bring many gifts.

The chairman is gracious and orderly, gentle and considerate of others. He bends over backwards to not push his own agenda.

The clerk is gentle and kind, attentive to detail, generous and always willing to help.

The treasurer brings a gentle and willing heart. She is kind and caring.

Karen is a researcher. If something is controversial, she goes onto the Internet, digs into details, background, and shares her findings as well as her own inspiration.

Margie is a peacemaker. If she senses any conflict, she finds the common ground.

Anne loves gardening. It’s her hobby. She brings her common sense about the soil, sun, and rain – what makes healthy growth – to the meetings.

I love the opportunity to see these wonderful qualities, these expressions of God’s love in action, moving the board forward in its purpose to make wise decisions.