On our way to Florida to go birding, we stopped for barbecue in Tifton. Sitting outside at a cold, stone table, I glanced over the nearby lake and saw a plethora of birds: a Great Egret wading on the shore, a pair of American Bald Eagles soaring overhead, and a flock of Canadian geese swimming along the surface. I ran back to the car for my binoculars. Over the next few minutes, I also saw a Great Blue Heron on the shore, a flock of Double-Crested Cormorants roosting in a tree and swimming across the lake, and a Pied-bill Grebe ducking under water in search of something to eat.
That may not sound like a lot, but we had only seen the eagle and the geese since the year began. That meant we had four birds to add to our list, and two of those – the Double-crested Cormorant and the Pied-bill Grebe – were brand new two us. They were “lifers” for us, and that’s always exciting!
However, the irony couldn’t escape me. We were headed to go birding for three full days. Yet, we just happened to see these lifers because I just happened to glance over while we just happened to stop at a barbecue place along the way.
It just happened.
Those birds showed up in the meantime. The sighting wasn’t planned; it wasn’t expected. It wasn’t even on the radar. It happened in the meantime.
The words, “in the meantime,” are probably a good motto of life. Life contains so many moments that just happen, usually while we’re going about doing other things.
I remember when we were younger and newly married and struggling to get out of school and begin careers. There were so many things we wanted to do, but we didn’t have the time or the money or the experience.
I hear people talk a lot about what they will do one day – when they get a better job, when they finish school, when they find a significant other. It feels like they are waiting for something to happen.
But, in the meantime, there’s life and it’s spontaneous.
Life is filled blessings and joys and surprises.
Life brings experiences and growth and maturity.
Life includes struggles, sorrows and hurt feelings.
Don’t miss what happens in the meantime. It’s in the meantime that God’s voice can be heard, His creation can be appreciated, and His glory can be worshipped.
In the meantime . . .
The other birds mentioned are:
Margie’s latest devotional book, 8 Days in Jerusalem, is available for Lent through amazon.com and christainbooks.com.
