A Blue Heron Under the Blue Moon

Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Tim and I walked our dogs by Grant Lake on the night of the blue moon. As I followed Olive along the bank, Tim asked me something, but I couldn’t hear him. He pointed at the lake. When I turned around, across the inlet a great blue heron sat, occasionally dipping his head in the water for a drink or minnows. I watched for several minutes, fascinated by this ominous bird. As darkness covered day, he blended in with the shadows. Tim called me to where he stood and the light cut in just enough that the bird stayed in view. As we watched this bird flex its wingspan, another one caught our sight. A few yards away, on a log, another heron sat watching. I hoped that the great bird would lift off and fly across the lake, but it must have been their bedtime. Quite often we see one sail across the water. They hover over with power and grace. I see them as a reminder from God that he has control of life, even in chaos.

Like the great blue heron, the Holy Spirit hovered over the water as God created earth. He accompanied God, just as Jesus did from the beginning of life on earth. What a blessing to know that God doesn’t maintain distance from his people. Instead, he moves over the earth in Spirit. He dwells in his people and loves through them. The Spirit lives with me every day. He nudges me in to service, he speaks to me and gives me direction, he comforts me when I am down and rejoices with me when I am blessed. Praise God for the Holy Spirit!