I spy, a fluffy dinosaur?

Not quite.

My daughter and son-in-law are living in New Zealand, once the peaceable kingdom, where non-flying-birds wandered the ground because there were no predators. When the adventurers arrived, they brought vermin {rats, mice, stoats} and domestic animals {cats, dogs} that decimated indigenous species. Critters, like this kiwi are now only found in highly protected situations. Well, and you have to be out looking and paying close attention.

This year, our journey through Lent includes the consideration of Fruits of the Spirit ~ so far, Love/Charity/Generosity and Patience; this Wednesday we will add Kindness. Not one of these Fruits are extinct but perhaps some could be considered for the 'endangered' list. After all, are gifts like Patience and Kindness huge societal aspirations? When was the last time that we held up any of these as core cultural values?

Katie and Steven were on one of New Zealand's Great Walks, off the grid on Stewart Island. Their kiwi adventure took them into the bush, after dark, with special filters, in the hopes of encountering a kiwi. It worked!

You are I, we are also off the grid, in a wilderness place called Lent. If we go slow, keep our hearts open and pay attention maybe we too will come face-to-face with likewise protected gifts ~ like Generosity, like Patience, like Kindness. Take the time to delight in them whenever spied.

Pastor Leah 

{Photo credit goes to Steven Kiyokawa; thanks for sharing!}