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A barren forest lies still before me, not so much as a whisper of wind to be spoken of. I almost feel myself holding my breath, as if I feel the forest doing the same.
Suddenly, a commotion in the fallen carpet of leaves sends a blur whistling down from the treetops. It swoops in and clutches an unsuspecting squirrel in its fearsome talons. As it alights upon a secluded branch to feast on its catch, I shift to catch a glimpse of this monstrous predator. I find that it is only a small hawk. His brown feathers are lightly brushed with a hypnotizing pattern of white and black, as if he were picked up, painted, and released by a Master Artist. I suppose my movement alerted him, for his little head spun around rapidly as I gaped at him. His piercing eyes meet mine for just a passing moment before he soars off again, uncomfortable with my watching him, I guess. I wonder how long he had waited for that prized feast he snatched from the ground, how long he had perched on that branch in anticipation of a meal. He was silent as the still air, never making so much as a call or a song or a wail. His keen eyes seem to me as wise as the owl. How patient the simple hawk was! He never griped or screeched as if to say, "How sore might my misfortune become as I sit here in this lonely tree?" I think we might do well to learn from such a little creature in such a large world. Who are we to say that brighter days are not ahead, sitting here in the lonely present? If we only shall wait in quiet trust of the Providential Hand, we ourselves might see a scurry of hope in the deadness of the forest.
Everyday Snippets is a blog series that takes a unique look at the beauty that surrounds us all the time. For more snippets, you can click here.
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