The Cranes (05/20/2025)

This morning as I sat with my coffee on the porch, waking up in the LORD and talking to the LORD about my past and future, movement in the distance caught my attention. It was the two sandhill cranes that come to walk our neighborhood in search of food every year. They are a couple. Later in the summer, they will bring their offspring with them. But today, it was just the two. And as I watched them, I was reminded of my calling in Christ to companion others. “The Way” isn’t a solitary path.

The two always do the same things as they travel across the neighborhood. One stands watch while the other forages. Then they switch roles, and the forager becomes the protector. As I watched them, I thought of our journeys of faith, hope and love. We are meant to make it with others. Jesus taught us this when He sent the disciples out in twos. While each of us must make our commitment to Christ for ourselves, another cannot do it for us, we are to be companions to others along the way.

As I watched the two cranes and realized how their companionship was symbolic for my companionship with others along “the Way,” I acknowledged that at times I am the one guarding or leading, but at other times, I am the one being watched over and led.

Our journeys are meant to be shared with others as is our faith, our hope and our love. Along the way, we find that in sharing these, they actually increase and strengthen. And we benefit from the sharing of our companions, as well, learning new insights, seeing Christ’s loving presence in different ways.

I watched the cranes make their way across the full vista that lay before me from my perch on the porch. I felt the Spirit guiding me in my observations and in my determination to be a spiritual companion to others along “the Way” and to accept the companionship of others.

And I uttered my amazement at how the LORD does it – turning a Tuesday morning prayer moment into a lesson on life in the LORD. Amazing. Our LORD is truly amazing. And I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.