Binoculars Wisdom

When we slow down and listen, we are often surprised at the beauty we find.

At a recent visit to my parents’ house, I found myself in the kitchen. Daddy was there too and he instructed me to go to the end of the table and pick up the binoculars that were lying there.

I smiled as I did as I was instructed. My parents have recently installed new bird feeders and have been using different kinds of seed. They have been blessed with all kinds of different varieties of birds, so much so, that they keep a couple of sets of binoculars handy to get a closer look.

When I picked up the binoculars, Daddy instructed me to aim towards the pool. I did as I expected to see some exotic bird, but he surprised me when he asked if I could see the beautiful hibiscus bloom. I chuckled. It was not at all what I was expecting, but it was truly stunning.

Mama and Daddy had overwintered their hibiscus plants, nurturing them inside their home all winter long. Since they had moved them back outside, they had watered them and fed them and waited patiently for them to bloom and one of them finally had.

Daddy was like a new proud papa admiring the first bloom of the season.

I’ve often compared the wisdom of young children and older folks. Both groups seem to instinctively know that the simple things in life often provide the most beauty and joy. They allow things like new blossoms, birds, puppies and frogs, to delight them. Both walk a little slowly, allowing them to drink in their surroundings. Neither are always hurrying so much that they miss important stuff like listening to a loved one share a story.

They appreciate the details and the little miracles that many take for granted.

I thought about those binoculars and that blossom long after that day. I thought about how much beauty we are able to see when we simply stop and look closely. I thought about how God often surprises us with something completely different than we thought, when we simply obey Him, like I obeyed Daddy that morning.

“Pick them up and look in that direction.”

The bloom wasn’t at all what I expected, but it was beautiful.

I was reminded that many of us live in the in-between, hurrying stage of life. We aren’t children, but we aren’t older and wiser yet. On our quest to succeed and get everything done, we forget to look around. We forget to slow down. We forget to listen.

Yet, when we do, what we find is often stunning. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂