An Imprint You Can Recognize!

It isn't unusual for birds to hit our sliding glass door. Generally all that remains is a little smudge mark - OK, sometimes a big smudge mark, it all depends on the size of the bird. Last night we discovered that one of the doves had flown into our window. We can tell it was a dove because it left a full imprint. With the outdoor light behind it you can see all the markings of the body, each feather is outlined, even the imprint of the eyes and beak are there to be seen.  Ouch, that must have hurt!  I cringe to think of it - maybe that's because I've gone into a glass door myself and ended up with a broken tooth in the process, but this poor bird had a full body slam at who knows what speed. It had to have had the wind knocked out of it and probably ended up on the cement porch for a little while. With any "bird luck" the outdoor cat wasn't around to see it happen.

Most of us have times in our lives when we slam into something we didn't see coming. It might not be a pane of glass or a brick wall, but we still get the wind knocked out of us and we're left wondering what happened. I've learned that some of my hurts are self-inflicted and brought on by my sin. Other times God allows things to come into my life to test me or strengthen me, things I may or may not understand.

When I encounter that next "wham" in my life, I wonder what kind of imprint I will leave behind. I hope and pray that the "imprint on the glass" will be recognizable to others, and will be a perfect image of Jesus rather than myself.