Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s cool and overcast, and although they’re not calling for rain, the sky looks like it’s preparing for it. There is a lot of preparation taking place this time of the year, and I marvel at how nature intuitively knows what to do to prepare for the winter. These deer are feasting on the acorns, just like they do every year. Although I’m pretty sure acorns taste good to them, they’re actually serving a purpose to fatten them up for the winter and to prepare them for a winter pregnancy. The squirrels are busy burying black walnuts that will feed them through the winter, and somehow they’ll know just where to go to find them when they’re hungry. The Canadian Geese no longer migrate, but the hummingbird does…something I never knew until recently, and I can’t stop thinking about. That tiny little bird that looks more like a dragonfly when it’s in motion will leave Virginia soon, and it will fly thousands of miles to Mexico for the warmer climate and an abundance of food. Before the hummingbird leaves Virginia, it will gain 25%-30% of its bodyweight to be sure that it has reserved “fuel” to fly up to 500 miles a day – even a non-stop flight over the Gulf of America. Look at God! As much as I marvel at the Hand of God and His Creation of things like the hummingbird, I Know that He has Equipped me and all the rest of mankind for even MORE. When the beast and the fowl intuitively trust the Hand of God far more than man, we’ve got big problems. As people of Faith, we’re already empowered with the Ultimate Helper ready to Guide us in our Preparation, too. If only we would Trust Him as much as a simple hummingbird does.

It can be so easy to follow the crowd, looking for treasures the same as the deer follow each other to the feast. Just like the herd of deer devouring the acorns, people gauge the feast based on how many others are congregated there, too. We believe a restaurant “must be good” if lots of people are lining up to get in, and we gauge the value of a church based on how many people attend. But good food is measured by the individual palate and not by how many people want to eat it. And yet, many people will go to a popular mediocre restaurant just because “everybody” else does. A good church isn’t gauged by how many people go there or by how good the music (and coffee) is. A good church is a church that disciples people to Holiness and isn’t afraid to teach hard Truths. And yet, many people will go to a popular church even if it means starving to death Spiritually because it “must be good” if so many people fill the seats. I’ve never been much of a follower, and popularity doesn’t impress me at all, so you won’t find me following the crowd. Instead, you’ll find me FOLLOWING Jesus with everything within me, and you’ll find me going in an unpopular Direction for His Name’s Sake every time. Never let it be said of me that I died Spiritually deprived all because I cared more about the opinion and popularity of man than I did about the One Who died for me.

Turns out, it’s true what they say, “Birds of a feather (really do) flock together”…at least most of the time. When the Canadian Geese are on the go, they always flock together in formation, and it’s a beautiful sight to see. When the buzzards are on the hunt, they always flock together searching for food. But that little hummingbird will fly on a strenuous journey from Virginia to Mexico for the winter all on its own. The journey from Virginia will take more than a week, with 18-24 hours just to cross the Gulf of America alone. It weighs slightly more than a US penny, and yet it is strong and resilient – a fearless as it makes the journey alone! The hummingbird doesn’t rely on what every other hummingbird is doing or which route the others are taking. It intuitively knows the Flight Plan, it knows where the flowers are blooming along the way, and it will find its nourishment without relying on a crowd. If only people were more like the hummingbirds – eager to make the long Journey toward Christ without relying on crowd pleasers and with no regard for popularity whatsoever – the world would look a whole lot Brighter than it does today.

I want to be like the hummingbird. I want to Intuitively Know how to Prepare for the Journey ahead, and I don’t want to rely on the crowd to get me there. I want to have confidence that the Lord will provide the Nourishment I need for the Journey, and I want to cling to the promise that “the righteous never grow hungry”. I want to take this long Journey of mine with Strength and stamina – relying solely on my God-given Guide. I want to “run and not grow weary” – I want to Persevere beyond anything I could imagine possible on my own, and I want to finish my race well. I won’t get there if I follow the crowd because the Gate I’m going through is a very narrow gate and the “crowd” won’t make it through. I won’t get there if I chase popularity because the One I Serve says, “They will hate you because of me,” and that kind of adversity doesn’t usually draw a crowd.

God gave me a herd of deer and a lone hummingbird to speak to my Heart today. As long as I keep my eyes on Him and not on the crowd, I know that all will be well with my soul.

How about you?