The Umbrella, Bird Feeder & Evergreen Question

The old striped umbrella with the wooden handle sat propped by the green front door.

Cemented in the soil, the wooden bird feeder stored food for many types, colors and sizes of birds.

Planted with care, the small evergreen tree grew on a grassy hillside. 

And then…

The grey chased across the sky, hiding the warm sun and the puffy white clouds. The breeze picked up as leaves turned upside down and small birds flew to shelter. The smell of impending rain loomed—sweet and clean—just as the first few large water droplets splash on you.

The question is…Are you the umbrella, the bird feeder or the tree?

There are similarities between the three objects. They all contain wood. None of the three have the ability to be mobile on its own. And they all have a purpose. Either to protect a person from rain, or to store bird feed or to grow large while providing oxygen to the world and one day limbs for nesting birds.

But there are major differences too. The umbrella and the bird feeder are not alive like the tree. The tree does its growing without any help from a human but the umbrella and bird feeder need the aid of a human or a bird to be useful.

Now we know that rain falls in every life. Like joy, laughter, and health but also sadness, tears and pain.

So when the rain comes and it surely will, where are you? What are you?

Are you like the old umbrella propped up in a dry corner when the rain comes? Although safe from the rain, are you using your God-given skills? Are you hoping to fulfill your purpose but stuck the bystander instead? Are you again waiting for the right place and the right time to open up and realize your destiny? Are you the umbrella?

Or are you like the wooden bird feeder stoically enduring the rain but unable to accomplish your purpose of feeding the birds? Is your usefulness conditional on others or circumstances? Always there ready to help but waiting on someone else to find your potential? Are you the bird feeder?  

Or are you the small evergreen, soaking up the rain and making the best of any situation? Sun, rain, wind or snow. Do you bear all types of changes and grow your roots deeper and stretch your branches taller as you fulfill your destiny? Are you a majestic tree who appreciates its place in nature? Are you the tree?

The umbrella, bird feeder and tree don't have an opportunity to decide how to fulfill their purposes. 

But we humans do.

You see, life is about the journey---day by day. And every day we make the decision how to participate on the journey by our choices, our attitudes and our beliefs. Are we traveling the journey with a grateful heart or an entitled mindset? Are we making wise choices along the way or following the path of least resistance?  Are our beliefs grounded in our Creator or embedded in our ego?

I admit that for me it depends on the day. Some days, I'm the umbrella hoping to open up and be useful and other times, I'm the bird feeder wondering why I'm enduring the rain without being useful. But I'm striving to be more like the small evergreen. And take what life has to offer while learning lessons of gratitude as I fulfill my purpose in this world. That's not always easy.

Focusing on the right choices, attitudes and beliefs every day is a great place to begin. And each day is a brand new chance on the journey called LIFE.

Let's make today our best yet.

Tammy Van Gils is a writer, blogger, and co-owner of S & N Paint Contractors, Inc. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International. In the Richmond area, she is a member of The Christian Writers Hub and Word Weavers Richmond. Visit her Facebook Page, Pinterest and Twitter @Tammyvangils.