falling prey

This morning was a first — a sharp-shinned hawk perched on a large, low branch of the locust bean tree that grows barely 15 feet from my patio. The weather was cool and cloudy and I found it odd to see such a predator in the middle of the city.

The usual backyard birds were conspicuously absent. Maybe they knew enough to stay away from this ruffian, but one tiny finch fluttered nearby. The hawk showed no apparent interest. Soon the finch came within a few inches of the hawk and in a strike as quick as lightening the hawk captured that poor tiny finch in its claws.

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caught in a trap

I got a speeding ticket the other day.
 Yes me, the one people pass all the time because I won't drive faster than the posted speed limit, unless I am driving on a freeway in some parts of California where it would be life threatening to drive the posted speed...but in general...I don't. 
I was on a road I don't travel often, and I missed the sign that told me the speed went from 55 to 45. 
I was only a few feet into the new speed zone when the Highway Patrolman turned his car around and turned his lights on. I pulled over, unsure of what I had done, and half expecting him to go flying by me. 
He didn't. 

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goin' outside with a growl

My wife and I don't have children in the home anymore, just a dog. A seventy pound English Bulldog, affectionately named BAMA, who eats more groceries than all of our kids and grand kids put together. A critter definitely spoiled by my better half. He slobbers, sheds, snores, barks relentlessly at our neighbors and runs through our tiny house like a Mississippi wild hog on steroids. Worst, of all his traits, is the ability to emit the foulest of odors, when least expected, and usually in the company of others. Often the victims are first time guests; often the crime is committed in confined quarters. Being accustomed to BAMA's unique timing for such a dirty trick, as well as our developing a numbness to it's impact, we seldom notice his accomplishment anymore. However, when others are present,  Linda and I spend many agonizing moments trying to defend ourselves! Yep, he's nasty, but we love him.
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the gift of neighboring

Who are the people in your neighborhood?  These days it seems we're so wrapped up in our own daily lives that we tend to forget those around us. I searched the term 'neighbor' in the NIV on BibleGateway.com and there are 141 verses instructing us on how to treat our neighbors. Over half of them are teaching us how to love them, just as we love ourselves. 

Now, I wasn't born a hundred years ago, so know that when I say, "It wasn't like this when I was a kid", I don't mean it from the 1800s. I grew up in an extremely small town in the 70s and staying indoors just wasn't an option. In fact, most of the time it was considered a form of punishment. 
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