Recently you may recall, Dear Reader, me extolling our cat, Maisie’s, devotion to contented companionship. With warmer days, the sliding doors to the patio are open more for the business of entertaining Tom, Maisie, and me. And it also seems to open a new chapter of God’s instruction via the world around me.

Tom and I live in a quiet cul-de-sac. At the bottom of our hill is a small pond, which we learned is part-time home to geese. Most mornings there’s a small parade of geese marching across our tiny backyard going to or fro their pond. If you’ve been around geese at all you know they typically make their combined presence known, loudly.

For you will be in harmony with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

Job 5:23

(A quick update on the Walters’ “stones of the field,” a.k.a., rock wall. After repeated torrential rains, we’re not exactly “in harmony,” the latest batch of plant babies being drenched before we had time to place them in their new homes. This may become a lesson in patience, perseverance, and hope.)

Back to our local “beasts of the field,” our geese neighbors. Now that I’ve watched the YouTube video, I understand a little better why the poultry parade can sound like a middle school lunchroom at noon on a Friday. So, what do you ask, can Maisie, the diva, the loud and proud geese, and me possibly share?

Recently I’ve been learning about, and appreciating more, being silent in order to enter and experience the presence of God in a deeper way.

 ^{My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.}

Psalm 62:5

Peaceful morning song during chair time for me is wind chimes whispering through an open window, instrumental hymns softly streaming, awakening nearby birds. When immersed in God’s Word, those sounds fade into the background. Similar to Maisie, I am content in companionship with my Provider.

And then those cantankerous geese march by, drowning out the chimes, the hymns, and their feathered neighbors!

Good grief, Dear Reader, am I as shallow as all that, to be distracted from the Creator of the Universe by beasts of the field and fly zone? Yes, so sadly, I am.

Then I look at Maisie. If I lean in closely, even with the goosey chatter, I can hear the slight whiffling sound of her snore. She’s not disturbed or distracted by the sounds of the geese or me. And I think God pushes back in His heaven-sized La-Z-Boy, and smiles to Himself a little at the outrageous creations He’s used to teach me another lesson: Even if I allow a flock of geese to distract me from His Word, His love letter for each of us, God still loves me.

What can distract you, Dear Reader, from fellowship with God? What strategies do you use to regain peace and focus?