“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity.” Psalm 133:1

Living in Harmony

Summer is in full swing and the birds and animals in my backyard have been laying claims to the limited space. A male robin staked out my backyard, while mother robin built a nest on top of my outside light, and proceeded to raise her family. But although I moved in and out of the house as gently and quietly as I could, father bird screeched at me as though I had no right to be there. Finally the robins decided I posed too much of a threat, and they packed up the family and left. This opened up space for a variety of birds to scramble for dominancy of the birdbath. I just keep the birdbath filled and leave them be. Meanwhile a chipmunk, who lives behind my stone steps, rebelled when I planted some thyme between the steps. It seems I blocked his entrance, and he quickly and authoritatively cleared away the dirt. So I let him have his way. God calls us to live in harmony with all of creation. There may be times when we have to assert ourselves, and other times when we simply need to stay on the sidelines. And occasionally we must quietly and graciously accept what is. May God grant us the wisdom to know the difference.

lhart@gwi.net