I was at the beach in Florida- one of my favourite places – when I saw this elegant egret. It was so tame that I could get right up beside it. It looked quite comical the way it moved it’s long legs through the waves.

It was only as I watched this beautiful bird, that I noticed the colour of its feet- vibrant yellow! It was colour coordinated with the yellow at the base of its bill, but was in stark contrast to its legs. I looked it up, and my bird identifier told me it is called a ‘snowy egret’ which seemed a bit ironic in the heat of a Florida summer. The yellow feet are to help it attract prey in swirling water.

It was only because I stopped to look at this bird as it waded through the waves, that I really noticed it’s feet. It made me reflect that often I move on too quickly to really notice the detail of things. In life, we are often in a rush,  speed reading are article, or only half listening to what has been said to us. We often miss really significant moments and insights because we are in too much of a hurry.

Eugene Peterson said that ‘busyness is an illness of the spirit’ and in much of his writing he speaks of how being busy subverts our spirituality, prevents us praying or giving meaningful time to God. We can be rushing so much, we are not listening to God, or to family and friends. We are frantically trying to fit everything into each day, not realising how much it is costing us.

This weekend it is Pentecost, when the Christian church celebrates the coming of God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings God’s message of grace and love and renewal to us, and we need the touch of God’s holy spirit so badly. May we be open to all God wants to share with us, to take time out to quieten our soul and to listen.

In 1 Samuel chapter 3, young Samuel says to God ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening,’ He is expressing his attentiveness to hearing God’ s voice, and to receiving His message. This Pentecost, and indeed all year round,  may we be similarly humble before God  and be open to hearing His life giving and transformative Word to us.

Loving Father God, we are often so busy, rushing about, trying to achieve so many things. Yet in our haste, we miss what is most significant around us. Forgive us for our distorted priorities. Teach us to slow down. Lord Jesus when we read of your life on earth You never ran. May we learn to quieten our spirit,  to be attentive to the voice of Your Holy Spirit, and to say each morning ‘Speak Lord for your servant is listening’. Grant us a humble heart to receive from You, an attentive spirit to discern Your will and an openness to finding inspiration and renewal. For Jesus sake, Amen