I went out early to my prayer chair, my favourite place to talk to the Lord. It was perfect, with a gentle breeze wafting across the grass that was still glistening from the dew that had fallen during the night. In the swaying trees that moved gently in the breeze, the birds were singing, each one their own tune. As I took in this beautiful scene, one of my favourite songs came to my mind: "In the Garden". I couldn't help but sing those beautiful words: "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And the voice I hear falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses." And as I raised my voice in the chorus, "And He walks with me and he talks with me and He tells me I am His own…", suddenly came a SQUAWK! SQUAWK! A small hawk, with a squawk like a full-grown eagle, dipped close to the ground in front of me and interrupted my special moment. Maybe he didn't like my singing! As I tried to recapture the mood, the crazy thing came again, swooping again and again close to my head! I tried to see what it was trying to get, but found nothing that looked like something this bird of prey could eat. What was this annoying little creature looking for? After several more passes over my head, he finally left me alone. Now trying to refocus, I tried to remember the words of the song that I was singing when I was so rudely interrupted. "And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known."

My feathered friend had intruded into my moment. He had interrupted my life by swooping in unexpectedly and threatening my joy. His persistence nearly derailed my time with God, but as I tarried in the garden of His presence, I was able to share His joy in spite of the hawk squawk!

I think of the times when life and its problems have dive-bombed my spirit unexpectedly and how I have ducked and swayed and nearly lost my joy to the enemy who squawked his lies at me. It usually happens when I need to spend time in the garden with the Lord, but sometimes, it is when my heart is fullest that the enemy tries his hardest to swoop in and pluck my joy from me. In those times, I need to tarry in His presence all the more! Praise God that He allows us to share in His joy!

So, when you hear a hawk squawk, duck and tarry!

Psalm 28:7 – The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. (NLT)

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we come to You with full hearts, even as we lift to You the squawking of our world. Its brokenness brings a desire to sit with You in the garden of Your peace. Amen.