Last week we visited Callaway Gardens during the kids' Spring Break. Callaway is a great place for families. We stayed in a cabin; my husband enjoyed a morning of guided fly fishing; we walked through the butterfly house with butterflies flying all around us; we took a ferry across the lake and saw turtles. We were so busy having fun we couldn't possibly get into trouble- right? Well, those of you who know me, know that I tend to find unusual circumstances. I would argue that these things find me, but I've been told that isn't totally true. No matter which way you would argue my predicament, I still found myself in an awkward situation. While my husband was on his guided fly fishing thingy, the kids and I went to the nature center. We walked around for a while and I spotted a bench where I wanted the kids to have their picture taken. Now, you do have to walk across flowerbeds to get to this bench and there isn't exactly a path to get there but why would they put a bench out if they didn't want you to sit on it? This bench is just a few feet from some bird feeders, a lovely spot. It just so happened that a very large bird, yes the one in picture above, was sitting on top of the bird feeder. I did notice the bird and made sure my kids walked very slowly and quietly to the bench. I did notice a few people taking pictures of the bird and courteously waited until they were done before we approached it. I, however, did not think about the fact that no one else was getting close to the bird. Well you will be happy to know that we got to the bench just 10 feet from the bird and the kids took a great picture (don't you agree?). I decided to sit on a nearby chair and enjoy the scenery for a few minutes. That was when I noticed all two dozen people staring angrily at me. Yes, two dozen- OK, I didn't really count them but there were a lot! Behind a fence stood this very large group of people all wearing the telltale Callaway green shirts, glowering at me for having the audacity of getting so close to this special bird. I had no way of knowing they were there and that I might be disturbing them. They were hidden behind a fence and I couldn't see them until I had already committed the act. I personally think those angry looks stemmed from jealousy; after all, I was only 10 feet from the strange bird and they must have been at lest 30 yards away. It wasn't because I was somewhere I shouldn't have been, kids and all- right? Well, you can probably understand why I didn't stay too long. I sternly whispered to the kids that they needed to slowly and quietly walk back to the sidewalk. And then it happened. As we stood, the bird lifted it's wings and prepared to fly away. Then I heard an audible OHHHH and felt the utter disappointment of the dozens of people behind the fence. Oh yes, I wanted to run and hide but we kept walking slowly. And thank God, I mean Thank You God. The bird decided to sit back down and I didn't have a mob running after me! I was tempted to go inside and ask someone what the bird was and what made it so special, but I didn't dare. I felt it wasn't wise to draw any more attention to us that day. So if you know what this bird is and why it is so special, please let me know. Oh, and what did I learn? I was reminded that people are always watching how well or poorly we represent Christ. I had no way of knowing that dozens people were behind the fence, but they were sure watching me. It is easy to think no one will know if I just say a little white lie, if I don't help that person, if I loose my temper- but people do know. People we don't even know are watching and we have the chance to make an amazing impact on someone's life. People will notice we are different and that is a wonderful testimony.
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