Migration

Our youngest monkey girl has been studying about birds lately.  Recently, we read about bird migration.  It was really fascinating and I was kind of geeking out over some of the information.  For instance, did you know that some birds will fly 3,000 miles non-stop over the ocean during migration? 3,000 miles!!!

For the past couple of mornings, I have been thinking a lot about migration.  There are several hundred geese in the field behind the hotel and they have become my alarm clock.  There is no sound quite like a collective chorus of honking geese. Wow!  

As I watch them from afar (geese are not known to be very congenial creatures), I notice that they are on a mission of sorts.  They spend hours in the field doing two things.  First, they seem to be positioning themselves in the most sunlit areas of the field.  They stay on the grass that is drenched by the sun.  At the beginning of the day, when the sun is only shining on a small portion of the field, they cram into that area.  As the sun rises and more of the field is illuminated, they spread out.  Second, they are constantly eating.  The field must be full of worms or bugs of some sort that the geese are gorging on. 

The days are growing shorter and colder. Instinctively, the geese are preparing for migration.  They will need the extra fat from the bug feast and the warmth and vitamins that they get from the sunshine to make their long hard journey South.  It's almost time. 

As they take fight in a few weeks, they will take a course that is familiar.  In fact, birds have been known to stop at the same bird feeder around the same time each year as they migrate. They will face wind resistance and have to self correct.  Even a slight deviation in one direction can throw them miles off their mark.

I feel like I have learned some valuable lessons by observing the geese for the past couple of days.  It dawned on me this morning that I am preparing for a migration of sorts.  I am migrating out of one season of my life and into another.  It takes a lot of preparation to migrate.  I have to make sure that I stay in the light of the Lord, so that I do not loose my footing.  He guides me with his light.  I need to make sure that I am filling myself with spiritual truths.  Feasting on them.  Fattening up, preparing for the long and often times, difficult journey that lies ahead.  There will be resistance and that could result in me deviating from the course if I am not able to recalibrate.  Ultimately, I want to stay the course and migrate well.  At the end of the migration route, there are greener fields. 

Hugs, 

Melissa