Many times I’ve wondered if something I just experienced, whatever I just witnessed and seen with my very own eyes were signs toward a pending decision, an absent person or an action I should perform.
I’ve heard others tell stories about having a “strong sense” about something and arguing in their head about acting on the encouraging thought. Just yesterday I was told of a woman who was about to leave a room with other people when she had this sudden prodding to go over and pray with a specific someone. Recently I was told of an experience when a man was driving past a gas station and his spirit prompted him to go pay for someone’s tank of gas.
While these examples are encouraging an action, what about those experiences that prompt a remembrance? These have a particular mystery attached to them that cause a sense of wonder regarding their significance. Things seen such as a shooting star, a penny, a red-bird, a floating feather — all provide a measure of curiosity. There may be a significant experience specific to you prompting you to remember a moment, a person or a place.
We read in the Scripture many times God uses experiences to remind his people of something. Signs in the Bible are typically taken seriously and their significance is profound with much to be considered. Take, for instance, the dove on Noah’s Ark returning with an olive branch. Let’s not forget the dramatic burning bush! Remember the ravens? They provided food in the desert. Perhaps the greatest sign, and certainly most historic, was the bright star leading the way for the wise men as they journeyed to the birthplace of Christ.
Signs are always around us and our attentiveness to the mystery and wonder of them is something that if ignored, the message will be missed forever. Yesterday I’m grateful for being attentive to see perhaps the only thing that would have caused me to stop and pay attention.
As I was leaving my dad’s house, I saw for the very first time in my life a rarely seen Indigo Bunting. It’s a small bird, bright blue with a song that is majestic and undeniably different. I have always wanted to see one. I know too, it was my late mom’s favorite bird. And there it was, right in front of me, singing to the top of its little lungs. Expecting it to fly away, I stopped to take it all in. And then it escorted me to the bottom of the driveway.
I was in total awe and wonder, for I knew this was one of the many signs mom was near.