The Story of the Two Bears

Our family, like a lot of families, is scattered in numerous places.   It is rare for our 4 daughters, 3 son in laws, and 6 grandkids  to be together with us at one time in one place.   We came close to having everyone together in late July for a few days in Colorado Springs, Colorado.   (One of our daughters was not able to travel due to some health issues.)     We rented a house for several days with a view of the Rocky Mountains.    When we arrived at the house,  we found a hand-written note near the back door that shared some news that we had not even considered:  bears.   We were cautioned that bears had been spotted near the house.    One night as we were  nearing bedtime, our son-in-law shared the news that there were bears behind the house.   I looked out the windows and saw a mother bear and a cub heading across the driveway.    While it was the one and only time we saw the bears during our visit,  we heard them visit the following night as we heard noise during the night.   When morning came, we discovered one of our bear-proof trash cans overturned about 10 feet from where it stood the previous day.   This was not our only encounter with wildlife during our trip west.  One day,  I saw two bucks bolt through a park where my grandchildren were playing.    There were also sightings of chipmunks in a parking lot.

These encounters with  bears and such in Colorado was a reminder of the fact that  you never know when you will have a chance encounter with wildlife.   You do not know as you travel down the road if there will be deer crossing the road around the next curve.   You do not know if or when bears will come visit your campsite in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.    You just don’t know.

“No one knows the day or the hour”,   Jesus said.     Jesus was talking about when the  second coming will take place.   Many through the years have made predictions about the second coming;  alas, it did not come to pass.    There are also some other things we do not know.   We do not know when the opportunity to help somebody will come to pass.   It might come as we go down the road as it did for a priest and levite one day  (see Luke 10).   It might come even as you are reading this.    Most of the time we do not know when an encounter with friend or family will be our last encounter.   One friend used to tell me that he always kissed his wife when he left the house as he wanted no regrets if it was his last time.    Two bears coming to visit at a rental house in Colorado Springs reminded me that there are some things we just don’t know.   May God give us a holy awareness about the preciousness of each day and each thing we see.   Have a blessed and joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:    O God, give me a ready and willing spirit for  the wonders and opportunities you will give me in this day and life;  through Christ I pray. Amen.