Cormorant Cleverness

I love to go fishing, and I find sneaky little ways to go just as often as I can. But lest I fool any of you, I'm not very good at luring the fish to my hook. When I was a little girl, my grandma used to spend time with me fishing off the bank. I would visit her lake house, and we'd get up before dawn and head down to the bank and fish for hours. I learned to be quiet and not ask questions but just fish. Later, as I became a teenager, dad taught me how to fish off shore, and those were some of the best days of my life. Most Saturdays were spent getting up very early and heading towards the Gulf of Mexico. I'll never forget catching my first shark, snorkeling for scallops, and fishing for grouper. It was always fun to fish with grandma and dad because they had one main thing in common--they didn't talk while their rods were in the water.
Fishing to me isn't a sport or a means to put dinner on the table; it is a means of refuge. As everyone knows, I relish standing in front of a classroom, preparing lessons, and planning some new project. However, I look forward to quiet hours on the riverbank, watching my cork with an eagle eye, and waiting for the mullet that I see jumping to make their way over to my 5-hook line.
My dad told me about a little spot about an hour from my house that has become my "secret fishing hole" because I go there alone most of the time. There I can escape reality, don my fishing cap, and impress no one. I fish with people who are there for the same reason, and it is almost comical to look through the trees and never see a body but see the line and cork emerge from the shrubs into the water. Here I find peace, tranquility, and quietness. Many Sunday School lessons and Missions songs have been written in these calm, relaxed fishing moments.
At my "secret fishing hole" a bird named the cormorant usually makes an appearance. Sometimes there are several of them, but not often. They are loners, sticking to a small area to "work", never far from their abode. As I watched a cormorant recently, I realized how diligent and purposeful their movements and techniques are. Allow me to give you a few facts about this clever bird.
*The Florida cormorant, usually not found in large flocks, is black and shiny, almost oily looking. Many people will mistake them for ducks, turtles and even snakes when they are under water and peeking their heads above the surface.
*The cormorant is VERY speedy under water, and will swim until he reaches his favorite target, freshwater fish.
*The cormorant will perch high as he watches the water for movement. Once he has zoomed in on his victim, he dives with purpose, often swimming deeply until his goal is reached.
*Lastly, after consuming his treat, the cormorant will fly high to his roost and air his wings. He is able to stretch out his wings effortlessly and dry them for hours. His wings are not waterproof, making it imperative for him to dry his wings before embarking another fishing mission, for his wings are useless if they are wet.

The cormorant has some fascinating characteristics from which a Christian can glean some truths.

1.  He has a purpose and will go great depths to achieve it. We don't ever read of Christ just meandering through towns and the desert without teaching. He taught every where He went. We don't find him rushing from place to place; he walked and taught and made time for people. I don't know about you, but I often find myself literally running from one thing to another. But do you know what happens when we rush? We make mistakes; we "miss" people because they are a blur; we stomp over people because they are in the way. Perhaps we should set our eyes on our goal, accomplish what is necessary, swoop with great accuracy, but not forget people in the process.

2.  The cormorant spends a great deal of time alone. Several times Jesus is found ALONE in the Bible. In John 6 we read of Jesus feeding the five thousand but then retreating to the sea for some alone time. The disciples don't find him until much later about 3 1/2 miles out on the water. Jesus knew the value of being alone even when everyone else didn't understand why they could not find Him.
In college, Bro. Hyles often told us, "It's a jungle out there." He warned us that standing up for right in a world of wrong would not be fun, easy, or come with great applause. Many times we have to stand by ourselves even in Christian circles when it comes to choosing righteousness.

3.  The cormorant MUST dry his wings before using them again. In order for the bird to completely dry his wet feathers, he flies to a high perch where he can attain sunlight and wind. He must fan his wings and wait. If he rushes the process, his wings will be of no use.
In Mark 6 the disciples had heard of the beheading of John the Baptist. His head, of course, lay with Herodias, but his body was taken by disciples and buried. They met up with Christ and relayed the whole hideous happening, and Jesus invited them to step away for a while. Jesus always had people around Him, but instead of turning them away, He found a way to retreat and rest when necessary, and He taught His disciples to do the same.
A profesor at Hyles-Anderson used to tell us girls in the bus ministry often: "Refill your well daily. People don't need to come to you for help and find an empty well." We heard Mrs. Belinda say that to us so many times that every time I read about a well in the Bible, I think of her challenge. It's true. Daily we must set some time apart to refill in the Word of God. We are useless, as Christians, without a daily cleansing of His words. What are we supposed to tell people when they come to us for advice? Past experiences and holding onto teachings of our leaders will only last for so long. Jesus' ministry was people. He loved, healed, and taught them everywhere He went, but He taught His disciples to get alone and "push the reset button" as well.

Most of the time we fill our lives with noise. Find time to get away from the "noise" of life and fill up with God's Word.

Have a blessed day!