I heard an interesting story about signs yesterday. A local resident, Phil, shared his story about a recent incident he had with a beaver. As I listened, I couldn't help but wonder how blind Phil was to the signs he was receiving from ... Someone!
Phil's five-acre yard has a small lake. On that lake is a small island. And on that island was a willow tree. Phil was quite enamored with the tree as it made the scene was quite idyllic.
Idyllic until a beaver took up residence in the lake.
One night Phil heard some gnawing sounds coming from outside, but as he lives in rural area, he didn't think much of it. The next morning, however he was stunned. As he looked from his porch to his little paradise island, the willow tree was gone! That beaver had cut it down and was using it to build his new home!
Over the coming days and weeks, the beaver made swift progress through the rest of the trees on the island, and the once beautiful island was slowly and surely being ruined.
Phil felt a great conflict in his heart -- did he want to keep his beautiful island or let the beaver be? He didn't really want to kill the beaver, but he didn't want to lose his island, either. So he checked with a local trapper hoping that he could relocate the beaver; the trapper informed Phil he would just kill the beaver.. and he would charge him for it.
So Phil made the decision to shoot the beaver himself.
Over the next couple of weeks Phil hunted the beaver. Beavers are nocturnal creatures, so each evening Phil would put on his head lamp and stalk the beaver late into the night. From time to time he would see the beaver and take shots at it, but since Phil was no marksman he would always miss. This went on for many nights. And each night Phil would experience more doubt and regret -- he didn't really want to kill the beaver after all.
Eventually the beaver got used to Phil, and would wander around in plain view, and would even sit and stare at Phil. With the beaver's guard lowered, one evening, Phil got the chance he needed -- the beaver was so close Phil couldn't possibly miss. So Phil took careful aim, calmed his breathing, pulled the trigger, and ...
Nothing happened! The gun had jammed!
Phil was so frustrated! He was tired of hunting the stupid beaver. He didn't want to stay up so late each night in the cold. He was sick of losing his little paradise island!
So he quickly checked the gun, found the problem, fixed it and he took aim.
He calmed his breath.
He slowly squeezed the trigger... and blam! He shot the beaver...
And, sadly, the beaver was killed.
As I listened to this story, I couldn't help but notice how many signs from God, Nature, or the Infinite Intelligence (whatever you'd like to call it) Phil had received. It was so clear to me that someone or something was giving Phil a clear message: don't kill this creature.
I was so obvious to me. Phil was so persistent in taking a life, but the Universe was telling him not to! I couldn't believe how hard he was trying to kill another being. In my mind I judged him as a fool!
Have you ever noticed how people are always asking for signs from Heaven or God. Always we ask for some simple sign to tell us what to do. Please God, give me a sign, tell me what to do!
I do this as well. I often ask for a sign. For some guidance.
I ask, but rarely do I ever get the sign I want.
But after I heard Phil's story and observed how oblivious he was to the signs from Beyond -- to me, I don't think it could be any more obvious that signs were being given! -- I wonder, how many signs have I just not listened to, or could not see?
Do you ever wonder how many signs have you missed?
Are your prayers,wishes, and hopes being answered after all?
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