Branta canadensis.
This summer Janice and I were blessed to spend a week in Courtenay/Comox, B.C. on Vancouver Island and to make the trip north to Campbell River. A member of Holy Cross who served in the Canadian military and was stationed in Comox told me that I had to make the however-many-kilometers trip to Campbell River. And I'm glad that he did.
These Canada (not Canadian) honkers were peacefully swimming at the mouth of Campbell River as it entered into the Strait of Georgia. Not a concern in the world. As you are probably aware, many of these birds have decided to winter where they summer. They've stopped migrating. Why? One reason given is that their former predators are not as numerous as they once were.
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything." Philippians 4:6a NLT
How I envy these geese. The reality of our lives is that our "predators" are always laying in the grass ready to pounce on us at any moment. What's even more difficult is that the predator isn't always "out there" sometimes the predator is inside of us.
Prayer is not a magical act that guarantees that the bad guys will disappear and we'll live happily ever after. Prayer is about a relationship with a God who understands what it means to be hunted and to be killed by that predator on a cross.
In the next verse Paul writes, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:7 ESV This peace is gift that God has for you. Peace doesn't come because you stop worrying. It's the other way around. The antidote to worry is the peace of Christ that already rules in your heart.
May you find yourself at peace today because of the God who gives you peace.
(Click on picture to enlarge.)
Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012 Douglas P. Brauner. ARR.
This summer Janice and I were blessed to spend a week in Courtenay/Comox, B.C. on Vancouver Island and to make the trip north to Campbell River. A member of Holy Cross who served in the Canadian military and was stationed in Comox told me that I had to make the however-many-kilometers trip to Campbell River. And I'm glad that he did.
These Canada (not Canadian) honkers were peacefully swimming at the mouth of Campbell River as it entered into the Strait of Georgia. Not a concern in the world. As you are probably aware, many of these birds have decided to winter where they summer. They've stopped migrating. Why? One reason given is that their former predators are not as numerous as they once were.
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything." Philippians 4:6a NLT
How I envy these geese. The reality of our lives is that our "predators" are always laying in the grass ready to pounce on us at any moment. What's even more difficult is that the predator isn't always "out there" sometimes the predator is inside of us.
Prayer is not a magical act that guarantees that the bad guys will disappear and we'll live happily ever after. Prayer is about a relationship with a God who understands what it means to be hunted and to be killed by that predator on a cross.
In the next verse Paul writes, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philipians 4:7 ESV This peace is gift that God has for you. Peace doesn't come because you stop worrying. It's the other way around. The antidote to worry is the peace of Christ that already rules in your heart.
May you find yourself at peace today because of the God who gives you peace.
(Click on picture to enlarge.)
Text and Photographs ©Copyright 2012 Douglas P. Brauner. ARR.
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