A Cardinal In A Tree

I do not recall ever before seeing a cardinal sitting still, high up in a tree, gazing around as if he were some emperor gazing down upon his kingdom. Yet, one day last week as I was going out in our backyard to water the flowers, I happened to gaze up into our pear tree, and much to my surprise, see this proud and beautiful cardinal sitting there. On impulse, I ran back inside and grabbed my camera, hoping that he would stay put—and he did. Now, it was a blustery day; so the leaves and the branches of his tree were in constant motion, as he continued to sit there, as still as he could be, just daring me to get a picture. Since he was way up high, I had to extend my camera’s zoom lens almost to its limit. This exaggerated every bit of movement; and trying to hold my camera steady and focusing on him—well, it seemed almost impossible. But, in spite of needing to hurry before he flew away, and in spite of trying to get anything more than a blur of red amidst the billowing leaves; somehow, God who provided the opportunity, facilitated the photos and a few managed to capture both his attitude and his beauty. As I reflect on this cardinal in a tree; on his view of me and mine of him—I realize that while we each seem odd to the other, we do have in common this privilege in our shared small space in the vast universe—we are created by Him who for His own purpose and for His glory, does all things well. We share a common purpose. We can, indeed, bring glory to the Maker who fashioned us both to reveal some unique, tiny bit of His remarkable nature.

A Cardinal In A Tree

There he was, a cardinal
imperial red in a tree
summer green looking down
on me as if he were
wondering who in the world
I might be; I wondered, too,
but for me it was a matter
of admiring his brilliant
fiery color impossible
to hide among a cooling cloud
of leaves; and under a brilliant
afternoon blue sky I realized
that he and I were both painted
by one creative artist whose
meticulously purposed
fingers are inspired by
eternal, redeeming love
revealing His omnipresent,
glorious activity accomodating
just a bit of Himself
in a cardinal and in me.

M.S.
August 19, 2020

Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.

Psalm 96: 1-3