Can You Feel It?

Yesterday, my sister’s words,

followed by a downloading video

popped up in my text box

as I was maneuvering my way

through a sea of shoppers 

at a grocery warehouse.

“There’s not a very strong 

signal in here”,

I texted back –

unsure if I would be 

able to “check this out”

at this very moment.

“No worries. 

You’ll be wowed when you see it.”

And, no doubt about it,

my sister was right.

A few aisles later,

I was able to see

what she had seen

only minutes before.

A huge bull elk.

Right in their neighborhood playground.

Sauntering up to her car window.

Showing off his majestic self

and his huge antlers.

All caught on video.

Knowing me,

she knew this 

would absolutely make my day.

And, it did.

Completely forgetting 

where I was and what I was doing,

I watched and re-watched the video

until “Excuse me, Ma’am” and 

“I just need by please”

brought me back to my cart

and the aisle of the store.

Later, 

as I was dropping off

some grocery items

at my sister’s house,

the conversation naturally

turned to elk.

“It was so cool.

Two of them.

Right in the playground.”

Normally the elk 

are up in the nearby mountains.

But, it’s winter.

And on this particular day,

when the weather was

up in the upper 50’s.

these elk were 

munching grass until

their hearts were content.

“They know the snow 

is coming tomorrow,”

I told my sister.

“Really?”

“My man always said

they can tell

when snow 

is on the way.

The can feel 

the change 

in the air.

A day or so before

they will seek out food

and eat and eat and eat.

Then, when the storm hits,

they hunker down

and ride it out.”

Today,

the snow is here.

As I am watching 

huge, beautiful flakes

float by my window,

and pile up in the yard,

I can almost see 

those two elk,

fed and satisfied,

hunkered under a tree,

watching the flakes fall, too.

And I can’t help thinking

how precious our Lord is

to have placed deep inside 

these majestic kings of the forest,

the natural inclination –

instinct through and through –

to prepare and be ready.

And because He knows –

oh how He knows –

we humans

aren’t designed 

in the same fashion,

our gracious Heavenly Father 

has lovingly and graciously

placed before us,

through the pages of His Word

and through the gift of the Spirit,

warning signs that tell us

about the spiritual change

headed our way.

If only we would be

as wise as these elk,

as diligent as them,

to feed on God’s Word,

to eat it 

and digest it,

and store it in our heart –

to prepare and get ready –

now while we can,

now while the time is given –

before 

the storm hits.

Like the elk 

feeling the change 

in the barometric pressure,

if our hearts are attune

with our God,

we can feel the spiritual barometer

moving as well.

And in my mind’s eye,

I see how God 

desires for it to be:

you and me,

fed, fueled, fit,

hunkered down and ready

for the times ahead.

The storm is coming.

Today,

not tomorrow,

is the day to get ready.

Today,

not tomorrow,

is the day to feed on His Word,

Today,

not tomorrow,

is the day to seek out God

as never before.

And, if we do –

if we do

whatever it takes

to be filled with His righteousness,

to be strengthened with His Spirit,

to be fueled by our faith,

to be content in our God 

and committed to His Kingship

no matter the cost –

like the elk,

we will be ready.

~Stacy