Suddenly the hawk took off! Isaac had reached halfway down the fence line before the hawk spotted him. Instead of flying away from Isaac it flew towards him skimming low over the grass, barely missing it, incredible in itself! By the time the bird was level with Isaac it must have been about a metre from where he stood. It was darting towards the neighbours’ large Leylandii. Before it reached the fence line where Isaac had crept along. It did a near vertical, upward swoop and disappeared into the tree!
As Isaac had this happening in front of him you can imagine his joy and delight! He can be quite dramatic as some of you know! His jaw literally dropped open. I could see him side on from where I was standing in the kitchen. He turned to us with his arms up in the air and collapsed on the floor backwards in a star shape! Very dramatic, yes, but it made the point without words. He had kept quiet all that time waiting, creeping, watching and he was rewarded.
It was incredible that the bird had stayed so long on the fence – well probably just a few minutes, but it seemed like half an hour!
I want to liken the hawk to Holy Spirit (where the hawk is mentioned in the next paragraphs). Every-one responded in the house in different ways to his presence. We all enjoyed him but demonstrated that differently but all still valid.
I pick on Isaac because he had the closest encounter of all. When Holy Spirit turns up we may be busy doing something deep in our shed, looking at things we enjoy, our bikes, scooters and other interests. When God’s presence is recognised, we need to engage with his presence to really know him more closely and then other things fade out of focus!
I longed for Isaac to get as close as possible to the bird but he wasn’t getting as close as I wanted him too. It was like the bird knew this, as he became aware he was being stalked. Instead of flying away from Isaac he flew towards him showing him some of his glory just like God showed Moses in Exodus 33.
I had also enjoyed drinking in the presence of the bird as he sat on the fence showing off his detail. Yet it was my turn to let someone else enjoy his presence. When he moves on we are drawn to follow. Letting others into the mystery of God and sharing it is not something we can hold to ourselves.
Holy Spirit is at work around us and within us. We can have the same experience of meeting him but we need to be watchful and ready. There is always an invitation to us as individuals and corporately to come further up and further in!