Beauty of Seeing

We have several trees on our property as do our neighbors. Each spring our yards come alive with birdsong and constant fliting and flying and singing within all the trees. There are always nests, but usually fairly high in the top branches.

Last week, my daughter was sitting on our back porch and pointed out a nest low in the tree right in front of her. We haven’t ever had nests in these lower branches because our picnic table sits close by and there is a lot of activity directly under the trees. A busy place that tends to discourage nest building.

But then we’ve never had mourning doves live in our trees before.

What surprised me was that I hadn’t noticed it. I enjoy sitting on our porch in the cool of the morning, listening to all the sounds of life around the pond. This nest is within direct sight of where I usually sit.

A clear and unobstructed view and I didn’t see it.

I wondered what else I was not seeing.

What other marvelous things were right before me but have gone unnoticed? Had I become so ‘busy’ that I was moving through the days unaware? When I do have time to sit, I’m catching up with texts or email on my phone, reading a favorite book, studying scripture, or scrolling through social media. It dawned on me that I never just sit anymore. Not really and certainly not for very long.

Every day I look up, check on the nest, and remind myself to slow down and pay attention.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf once said, “Life-changing truths are before our eyes and at our fingertips, but sometimes we sleepwalk on the path of discipleship.”

I really have no desire to sleepwalk on any path, much less on a path that leads me Home. I have made it a priority to sit every day and be still …and know that He is God.