I am starting to feel a little sad. My hummingbirds have not come to the feeder yet this year. It is out, filled with sweet sugar-water, waiting on their expected arrival.
Usually these hyperactive little guests come knocking, buzzing my patio door letting me know they have arrived. It is as if they are saying, ” I am here. Anybody home? You’re expecting me, aren’t you? I made it back and I am want a drink!”
I don’t usually get a lot of hummingbirds but I do have several pairs that have come faithfully over the years. Now I am wondering, has misfortune struck them? They were always very punctual and I could count on them to come calling around April 20. I also know when my feisty little friends will leave-September 10. So now I am a concerned hostess. Are they still coming? Are they still alive? Did they come early and not find food and leave? By chance did they find a place they liked better? Did they find better accommodations down the street?
Once a friend told me about the time he was at the Gulf of Mexico around the middle of September. There were thousands and thousands of dead hummingbirds washed up on the beach. A hurricane had just gone through the Gulf and apparently the little birds got caught in the storm as they were migrating south for the winter. He said it was one of the saddest sights he had ever seen.
Hummingbirds are not the only things that come knocking. Our welcome mat is out and it is fun to have guests and family come to visit. We anticipate our time of fellowship-eating and talking together. Sometimes we see them arrive and can greet them at the door with open arms. Other times they knock to let us know they have arrived or yell “anybody home”! It makes me anxious when people don’t arrive when I expect them to. I begin to wonder if they are having trouble, forgot the invitation, or had an accident.
Revelations 3:20 says Jesus also comes to visit. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Jesus will visit each person’s heart. He is polite and will not enter without invitation nor will he ever break down the door to enter. Jesus wants an open arm invitation to come into our lives and fellowship with us.
When I was twelve, I flung open the door of my heart to Jesus. I felt Him knocking. My heart pounded as I debated whether to open the door. I knew He was there, calling “anybody home”? Was I going to pretend I wasn’t home or would I open the door to Him? I will never forget the sweet peace that came over my life when I invited Him in.
Listen, and you too will hear the inviting voice of Jesus, “Anybody home”?
May 9 footnote: This morning I was looking out the patio doors as I drank my coffee and there they were flirting around the feeder looking for food. It made me wonder, where has their journey taken them? If the weather is early down south also did they leave late? Did they take a wrong turn getting here? I will never know their story but at least I can now enjoy my guests for the summer!
I also found a new word in the Readers Digest (April 2012 issue) this morning. Iktsuarpok (Inuit language). I can’t begin to pronounce it, don’t even know what language Inuit is but I love the meaning. “That feeling of anticipation when you’re waiting for someone to show up at your house and you keep going outside to see if he’s there yet.” I have been iktsuarpoking, standing at window each morning and evening, watching with anticipation for Mr. and Mrs. Hums arrival!!
I also had to think of a neat spiritual application to the word “Iktsuarpok”. Jesus is coming back to earth and it may be soon. We do not know the day or hour but scripture tells us to watch, look up, anticipate his arrival (Mark 13:32, 35, Matthew 24:42, 25:13). He will announce his arrival with a trumpet sound (I Thessalonians 4:16-18). Jesus told us to keep looking up with anticipation. Watch and be ready. When He comes, He will take all those who have accepted Him as their personal Savior home to heaven (Revelations 16:15). What a glorious day that will be! (II Timothy 4:8)
