The Cardinal in the Snow

Beauty in God's world is everywhere. In fact, it is so all encompassing, it is too easy to run along through life and never really "see" what is all around. Oh sure, a great work of art, a sculpture, a little beaming child, a cuddly puppy, a field of flowers-I may notice those and pause a moment to take it in, but otherwise the pressures of schedule, personal interactions, work and just living in our complicated world can take over and block the "view."

One early winter morning, a string of record-breaking bitter cold days was overlain by several inches of un-melting snow. I rounded the corner into the back room of our warm home and saw it: A bright red cardinal sitting on a barren branch of a small tree just outside the window. It was all puffed up and fat looking, but I knew, from an article I read just the day before, that birds fluff up like that to keep as warm as possible in the bitter cold. In the frame of the window, it was a perfect picture in nature's brilliant red against a backdrop of white snow. At first, I only thought of what a neat photo this would make and hurried for my phone camera.

As I took several pictures, I realized-the cardinal was not enjoying the scenery and waiting patiently for me to get just the right picture. No, it was waiting for more seed to fill the empty bird feeder hanging in the little tree.

It was a beautiful, solitary, probably lonely and very hungry figure.

As I looked at the photos I took that morning-before I put on my coat, hat and boots and hurried out to fill the feeder with a new supply of seeds-I realized the contrasts of life were framed for me in that window. There I was, warm and comfortable inside my home. The awesome beauty of just one little bird so brilliantly adorned by God's plan for a world of beauty, love and fullness was ever present. But the scene was overshadowed by what I knew was a life-threatening circumstance for that creature. If the feeder was not replenished with food that provided it nourishment and the warmth of the energy it would create, the bird would likely perish.

Every one of God's human children are a creation of intense beauty and awesome value. How often are those having difficulties left out in the "cold" by those inside where it is "warm"? How many of us, through pride or fear or both, stay puffed up and are never willing to show or say what we really need even when times are tough and maybe even desperate?