His Lifting of Burdens

Pollen floats like dust across the sky. It has begun. My eyes are just beginning to recognize the only downside of Spring. Wait...there is another downside. Spring is when all the competitions that highschoolers are in come around. It is a whirlwind of art contests, SATs, ACTs, and DI State contest over the next few weeks. Pollen is nothing compared to the stress of spring activities with my highschooled daughter.

As I collapsed, a bit of a basket case a couple of days ago, a very Godly, wise friend reminded me of a simple truth. It is so simple that I often forget it.

We are not in control. And when we try to be, we become frantic, disillusioned, depressed, and overwhelmed. Give back to God what was never ours to take in the first place.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Just saying those words bring relief. Take it Lord! I relinquish ownership of the world  burdens. Including my....

What was that??? Just as I was writing about all my stress as the sun was just beginning to set, I heard an owl hoot its distinctive call -- "whocooksforyouuuuu?".  It was still daylight, albeit just barely. One never hears owls in the daylight, and one certainly never sees them. I went dashing outside and looked up at the tree tops.
"Whocooksforyouuuuuuuuu?" it called again.
And then, with a majestic sweep of wings, it flew from the tree above me to a neighbor's tree.

I could count on one hand the times I have seen an owl in the wild. I was so thrilled! It hooted its song several times for me while I watched it. It felt like a gift from God. I was reminded of how He is often unseen, but He is nonetheless present. And His call is distinctive and clear in the uncertain dusk. We carry so many burdens not knowing He is there, willing and able to lift them from us....and then He reminds us in sometimes subtle and sometimes spectacular ways that He is right above us. All we need to do is look up!
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Matthew 11:28-30 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Exodus 33:14 

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Jeremiah 29:13 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

1 John 4:12

No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

Acts 3:19-20 

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,