I didn’t want to retire but my back got so bad that operating became agony. Fortunately, as had not been the case when we first went to Ethiopia, there were now many able to and wanting to take my place, when I retired! It meant leaving the country, the people and the challenges which over the last x years I had grown to love!
But even en masse, birds can look beautiful. Followed by some individuals.
For many of these pictures I have vivid memories. The kookaburra used to eat out of my hand as I sat on the back veranda recovering from cancer surgery! If I didn’t get up early enough for his liking and the backdoor was open into the laundry he would come in and sit on the kitchen bench and squawk until someone answered his cries for attention. Then a young boy came to live with us – a kid missing three limbs and the bird gave his attention to him!
Which of course lets me flit a bit further to the fun we had while he was being fitted for limbs! In the picture he was enjoying washing the car on the front lawn, and I grabbed the hose! He climbed, and still resides, in our hearts but the government wouldn’t let him stay in Australia. So birds can take people through memories into great joy but sometimes while the joy lingers sadness tinges the edges! But what happens if the pictures in your mind bring guilt. Two verses of scripture allows me to find, without just excusing myself, real peace in forgiveness. In Hebrews it says ‘Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.’ And in Micah it is written, ‘He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.’ The deepest sea is 10,994 metres! It seems sometimes as if someone or something wants to take my peace and joy away, but God says ‘Stuff ’em, believe Me!
An Old man but still young!
Heated Stew 