Sea Gulls

When I served in a development ministry with the Foundation for Evangelism, Clara and I usually made a "thank you" visit to Florida to see Alice Lockmiller. Alice was so much fun to be around. I usually worked in her area and spent some time with her for two or three days. She always wanted to take Clara and me to the beach. On the beach Alice truly enjoyed God's creation, especially the sea gulls. When she walked out on the beach with her bucket filled with shrimp, instead of flying away which was their usual custom with most visitors, they came to her. It was unbelievable to see the excitement that both Alice and the sea gulls had together.

In his book, "In the Eye of the Storm", author Max Lucado described the following scene.. "An old man walks down a Florida beach. The sun sets like an orange ball on the horizon. The waves slap the sand. The smell of salt water stings the air. The beach is vacant...

"He carries a bucket in his bony hand. A bucket of shrimp...for the sea gulls.

"He walks to an isolated pier cast in gold by the setting sun. He steps to the end of the pier for his weekly ritual.

"Soon the sky becomes a mass of dancing dots. The evening silence gives way to the screeching of birds. They fill the sky and then cover the moorings. They are on a pilgrimage to meet the old man.

"For a half hour or so, the bushy- browed, shoulder-bent gentleman will stand on the pier, surrounded by the birds of the sea..

"But even after the food is gone, his feathered friends still linger. They linger as if they're attracted to more than just food. They perch on his hat. They walk on the pier. And they all share a moment together." This elderly gentleman is committed to the task of feeding the seagulls, though the task seems very mundane (http://www.amazon.com/Eye-Storm-Max-Lucado/dp/0849943256).

Recently, a well known minister wrote, "We live in a society that both fears and avoids commitment. Nobody wants to be committed to anything these days. In fact, the operational attitude today appears to be, 'I want to keep my options open. I don't want to be tied down...

"This philosophy of life is tragic because the fact is that we cannot live without making commitments. Nothing truly great ever happens without the making of commitments. Lack of commitment leads to lack of focus, and lack of focus leads to a life of drifting along with the tide"(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y).

Learn from both "the old man of the Sea" and from our friend, Alice. Find a need and commit yourself to help meet it.

Scriptural Guide: "If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters; yes, more than your own life. Otherwise you CANNOT be my disciple. And you CANNOT be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me; No one can become my disciple without giving up EVERYTHING for me." (Luke 14:25,26,33 )