I was cruising through the quaint campus of Bethel College when I saw a bit of a humorous sight.  A faculty member who I recognized from Noon Hoops (our Monday, Wednesday, Friday staff basketball club) was walking alongside the street waving a white towel.  To provide a further visual, he wasn't waving it in a manner to get attention, but rather as an old country cook would shake a towel to shoo away pesky animals wanting a taste of newly baked creations.  Needless to say, I had to put Valerie (my truck) in park and take in the sight. 

A minute or two (or five) later, I saw what the faculty member was up to.  He was chasing a hawk.  That's right, a hawk!  Now, you may be wondering how a man can chase a hawk on foot, while shaking a towel.  Let me fill you in on the situation.  Apparently the hawk had been resting on a telephone pole and received quite the shock from the power lines.  Falling a few dozen feet took its toll, breaking the hawk's wing.  The faculty member was, for lack of a better time, wrangling the hawk in an effort to save its life. 

(Fast Forward)

Did you really think I would be able to stay in my car for this?  No way!  I got a bright blue towel out of my back seat and ran across the street in an effort to help catch this bird of prey.  And guess what, we caught it!  Well, let me clarify, the professor caught it.  I merely stood there saying, "Get him!  No, Now!  Oh, you missed him!  Oh, Oh, You Got Him!"  I helped a lot.  The conversation that took place while the hawk rested in the professor's arm (like a newborn baby) inspired this blog post.

Background info:  I'm in awe of big birds.  Other than Canadian Geese, which I'd like to see pass away in a violent fashion, I love birds that are bigger than my head.  Their size makes me respect them even more.  So with this bird merely inches from me, I'm fixated on it, and I couldn't help but giggle when I pet its head.  The professor was much less excited than I.  He has an extensive history with large birds, and he questioned whether or not this bird would even be accepted by the rehabilitator, because once rehabilitated, it would still not fly, and it wouldn't be accepted as a pet (which is legal).  My giddy self asked why anyone would pass up on an opportunity to have such an amazing bird as a pet, and the professor filled me in on the fact that this was "Just a Redtail Hawk." 

Now, I'm still a bit unsure what this means, but apparently it's a very common hawk, and therefore not a big deal.  This flipped me out!  I was head over heels in awe of this hawk, and it was just another bird to this professor.  After the ordeal, as I drove home, I took an inventory of my life.  What things do I have, see, or experience in my life that would cause other people in the world would flip out?  And though I'm not criticizing this professor, because this is different, how have I allowed myself to become so accustomed to the extraordinary?!  Here's the list I came up with.  I hope you enjoy/relate and take an inventory of your life so that we can thank the Lord for the blessings we have but barely even see.

- a car bought made in the past 10 years
- two TVs
- surround sound
- laptop (currently using)
- leather furniture
- iPods (two)
- over 1500 songs
- 50+ DVDs
- 20+ pairs of shoes
- an entire dresser full of shirts (just shirts)
- cell phone (PDA no less)
- 3 meals a day
- Health Benefits
- clean drinking water
- hundreds of other drink choices
- clean meat
- 100+ owned books
- 15+ Bibles

How have I let myself look into the eyes of these hawks without standing in awe?

Love,

Bobby