I wish I could forget, and I wish my family could forget, the legend of Kendra - hummingbird whisperer. Of all the things to be tormented by when I get the rare chance to be with extended family. . . I wish the memory would die!
When I was small, I occasionally had the patience to focus uncanny amounts of energy and time on whatever I was interested in. One summer day, it happened to be the myriad of hummingbirds on my grandmother's feeder. Hovering and fleeing, the tiny birds didn't stop for a moment. My company of relatives eventually went to see other farm wonders, leaving me standing alone among my migratory friends. I stood there so long that the little bitties decided it safe to return to the feeder only an arms reach away from me.
I wanted one of those little birds to sit on my hand, so I held it out for what seemed like hours. No luck. Since that didn't work, and they weren't scared of me anymore, I figured I would help one out a bit. I picked one of the hummingbirds off of the feeder with two of my fingers and placed him on my hand. I think we were both equally surprised by the tactic, because he just sat there staring at me for a while and I back at him. One of my aunts noticed my open palm with the bird on it and began to yell. Soon everyone gathered around and he flew off.
That's the day the legend began. Unfortunately, none of them saw me pick up the bird from the feeder, so the legend states that the bird flew and landed on my hand. As an adult I've shamefully informed most of the family of what really happened, but my sweet grandmother still believes the lie. My heart broke when I heard that several times since I was a child, she's tried to replicate the instance by standing for very long periods of time next to the feeder with her palm out. I couldn't bear to smash her hopes of one day becoming a hummingbird whisperer!
David can definitely understand my remorse as a man of legend himself. God displayed His power through David many times in battle. Songs were sung of him, and the Philistines remembered his triumph over Goliath. Having fled from his countrymen and living among the Philistines, David marched to war against his brethren.
His legend as a vessel of God's action was a concern to the Philistines. They rejected David from their midst as they readied to war with Israel. David's faith and service to God through King Saul's leadership was not easily forgotten.
Closed doors often confuse us or worry us. But closed doors also show God's direction. Here among the Philistines, David and his men are rejected and sent home. It is a decisive and sovereign act of God through the Godless Philistines.
What is God doing? We will soon see. Unexpected changes in life, especially closed doors to the things we want, are often the beautiful and sovereign hand of God working on our behalf.
© 2007 by Kendra Hinkle
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