I kept hearing a noise in the garage.
Almost a knocking sound. That’s weird. Who knocks on an overhead door? We have people doors with doorbells and everything.
Or maybe that’s knocking on a window. I wonder if a bird is stuck in the garage. One flew in there the other day.
I ventured out. Unarmed in case you were wondering.
Aha. Mystery solved. A bird was trying to break IN through a window.
Nothing I can do about that.
What a curious looking creature, though, hanging out there on the windowsill in between break-in attempts. I wonder if a can get a picture.
I retrieved my phone and returned to the garage, approaching the window sloooowly, in stealth mode.
Ah, drat. No bird. Maybe he moved to the next window? Nope.
The bird had flown the coop, I mean the windowsill. The only photo I got was this fine shot of bird doo.
Bird doo … dooby dooby doo doo doo …
Yesterday I messaged a friend, “Hey I’m shutting down for a few to throw dinner together, but our mutual friend wanted me to harass you to get on tonight’s video call, lol.” Their response mentioned the news of the day.
I replied, “I have largely been avoiding the news of the day. Burying my head in the sand … the sand being Jesus.”
Sometimes ostrich mode is healthiest. Especially when social media is filled with little but bird doo.
I had a great day yesterday, in spite of the umpteenth day in a row of ridiculously overcast skies here in Ohio. (Take your vitamin D, kids. If not for Covid protection, for winter blahs protection.)
I watched a Hallmark movie from a few years ago starring Megan Markle.
I went for a three mile walk that took longer than usual because I stopped to chat with some of my favorite neighbors.
I zoomed in to midweek bible study. Hit me up if you want the link to participate live or catch replays. We’re starting an overview of every book in the bible, one-ish per week, planning to finish all sixty-six books by year end. It’s just an overview, with opportunity for questions and discussion. Some people set out to the read the entire bible in a year, and if you feel stirred to do that, don’t let me stop you. I think that’s great. For a recovering perfectionist, though, having to meet the read-it-all-in-a-year goal started to become an unenjoyable chore. I figure I’m doing outstanding if I just keep reading scripture and trying to do what it’s pointing me toward. A one-hour overview per week is really doable. Who knows, it might entice me to prioritize reading a book here and there as well.
Speaking of books, I finished the audio version of Trey Gowdy’s Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: Using the Power of Questions to Communicate, Connect, and Persuade. Although it does touch on his time as a Republican U.S. congressman, the book primarily focuses on persuasion techniques and his career as a prosecutor. In this era when discernment and wisdom seem to be lacking, I cannot recommend it enough.
(Also watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix if you haven’t.)
Seriously, this morning I dipped a toe in the water by venturing onto the friendbook … annnnd … I gifted at least two dozen people with a thirty-day snooze. I doubt I’m done yet. You get a snooze … and you get a snooze … everybody gets a snooze …
The more you study the art of persuasion … the more you start to recognize when people are employing the tactics. People employ them, political parties, media companies, tech companies, fringe groups. They seek to advance an agenda, to gain power, to gain money.
Discernment and wisdom … she is elusive these days.
If the (now snoozed) social media posts are any indicator, way too many have sprinted down the rabbit holes that have been dug for them.
Rabbit holes … bunny trails … trails of bird doo …
Jesus is Lord. Everything else is bird doo.
