Buzzard Food

...not a vulture...NOON, 2/5/11

The two of us were enjoying the pool's warm water and soaking in the sun's rays.  A few other people were there.  One lady was stretched out in a lounge located in the opposite corner of the pool area, sunbathing.  Suddenly, vultures or buzzards flew overhead.  At least three birds continued to cruise...circling the air space above our heads.  Not good.  Big birds.  Not good.  They resembled the vultures or buzzards portrayed in western movies...those you see circling above a carcass. 

We watched.  And kept watching.  I was a little bothered!   I'd always heard there was something dead nearby whenever buzzards kept circling - and they were getting ready to enjoy dinner.  I find it strange that while flying so far up in the air they can still spot something not moving on the ground.   Their eyesight must be incredible.  Two or three of these big black birds were hanging around a little too long for comfort...my comfort! 

I saw no reason for these birds to do their thing at the pool...we were alive and moving!  Only the lady in the lounge chair at the far end was not moving.  I named her "The Still Lady."  By this time I made a wise decision: keep moving.  Look alive!   I read that vultures usually don't kill their prey and they seldom attack healthy animals, but they will often kill the wounded or sick.  I couldn't help but relate this to something spiritual.

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Here's a gross fact (as though you needed to know): Vultures urinate straight down their legs; the uric acid kills bacteria accumulated from walking through carcasses. I told you it was gross !! How disgusting is the enemy! The enemy of our soul is beyond disgusting! He is putrid. He is repugnant. Disgusting.

Spiritual inactivity results in a lifeless condition.  It's dangerous to appear as road kill.  Road kill invites vultures.  Prolonged hopelessness, guilt...can eat away at a healthy Christian until they become spiritually sick.  Alive, but paralyzed.  The enemy walks (or flys in this case) to and fro, seeking whom he may devour...his eyes lock on the sickness...he flys to the atmosphere of helplessness...circles overhead, watching and waiting for the disease of dispair to weaken his prey...patiently soaring, knowing his moment to move in and devour (1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:).  John 10:10 tells us that the thief comes to where we are with the purpose to destroy us.  He has no other interest.

HE IS NOT: 

- a little man in a red suit with horns/pitchfork. 
- your friend.
- providing a people party in hell, complete with trays of treats. 

Jesus came to give abundant life - the kind of life which shows the world that we are alive while living. Maybe you need to become active - move - go forward - let your speech be positive - look alive! You deserve to live and you have a right to love living. Jesus is for you. He wants you to renew your strength and soar like an eagle. Look Alive! Could it be that you've become lethargic...and the enemy is soaring above you...waiting for you to weaken?


John 10:10  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."  As the Message Bible says:  I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

Remember:  You are not road kill.  You are valuable to God.  You may have problems, but you are still 'alive' and you can defeat the enemy and continually rejoice in the knowledge of who you are in Christ.  Jesus overcame the world.  Victory awaits you.  If life has made it impossible for you to pursue your profession - then you can began to pursue your dream.  You must not lie down in defeat.  God will make a way when and where there seems to be no way!

Sometime later (at the pool) I looked for "The Still Lady" at the other end of the pool and she was gone.  All of a sudden a huge buzzard flew close overhead.  I figured it was time to leave.  And I did.  After all, I have things to do!!

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