The Timberdoodle
II Peter 3:9 -- "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
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| Image: © Gerrit Vyn |
Watching the Timberdoodle [aka The American Woodcock] at Dawn or at Dusk might make one wonder why they are on the list of the top ten slowest animals. They certainly move faster than the snail or the Koala [also on the list]. So what makes them qualify?
During the spring time, like most male birds flirting with the thought of procreation, these little coastal forest dwellers put a wonderful little dance. Almost human-like they take a few slow steps while bobbing up and down. Put to music, this little show becomes hilarious as it really would seem that these little guys are grooving down to some unheard beat. Compared to other bird displays of courtship - the Timberdoodle is quite slow. And while I can't help but smile while watching YouTube videos featuring this little feathered Casanova, his painstaking little footwork IS very intentional. He simply will NOT be rushed. Every single little bob up and down is quite deliberate.
Even taking to the air they seem to be taking their time. Instead of dive bombing the females or making quick darts to the ground, they kind of zig-zag their way down, much like a feather floating on the breeze.
It's the same while they forage for worms and other tasty little insects on the damp floor of pocket forests along the coast. The slowly bob up and down, probing the earth, now and then pulling out a tasty little treat. Watching them at work, its a wonder they are able to evade predators.
To the human eye it would seem that these birds only have one gear ... slow. But really, they are moving about in the exact way they were created to. WE might think them slow, but what do WE really know of slowness? We aren't a Timberdoodle.
When I came across II Peter 3:9 today I thought of this little bird on the top ten slowest animals list. We humans have a pretty closed-minded interpretation of movement. We think in terms of slow and fast - but perhaps, like the little Timberdoodle, it's all about being patient. Each timid little step he takes while he bee-bops along puts him one step closer to his goal of a female, or food. He's patient in his movement. He knows it takes a certain style to get him what he wants.
What about us? As we have become a smaller and smaller world due to lightning fast communications and social media, we might thing our Father is moving quite slowly. When will our Lord return? When will the misery, the hunger, the sadness, and war mongering stop? Why does our Father take soooooo loooooong to grant us peace? Return to us, dear Jesus so the turmoil can end .....
II Peter tells us why: The Lord isn't moving slowly as we think of slowness. Instead, He's moving patiently. He very truly doesn't want to lose a single one of us and so - is offering us the very precious gift of time.
Maybe I shouldn't complain about that.
Even taking to the air they seem to be taking their time. Instead of dive bombing the females or making quick darts to the ground, they kind of zig-zag their way down, much like a feather floating on the breeze.
It's the same while they forage for worms and other tasty little insects on the damp floor of pocket forests along the coast. The slowly bob up and down, probing the earth, now and then pulling out a tasty little treat. Watching them at work, its a wonder they are able to evade predators.
To the human eye it would seem that these birds only have one gear ... slow. But really, they are moving about in the exact way they were created to. WE might think them slow, but what do WE really know of slowness? We aren't a Timberdoodle.
When I came across II Peter 3:9 today I thought of this little bird on the top ten slowest animals list. We humans have a pretty closed-minded interpretation of movement. We think in terms of slow and fast - but perhaps, like the little Timberdoodle, it's all about being patient. Each timid little step he takes while he bee-bops along puts him one step closer to his goal of a female, or food. He's patient in his movement. He knows it takes a certain style to get him what he wants.
What about us? As we have become a smaller and smaller world due to lightning fast communications and social media, we might thing our Father is moving quite slowly. When will our Lord return? When will the misery, the hunger, the sadness, and war mongering stop? Why does our Father take soooooo loooooong to grant us peace? Return to us, dear Jesus so the turmoil can end .....
II Peter tells us why: The Lord isn't moving slowly as we think of slowness. Instead, He's moving patiently. He very truly doesn't want to lose a single one of us and so - is offering us the very precious gift of time.
Maybe I shouldn't complain about that.
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