Trampoline Bird

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Psalm 121:1-4

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

What It Is Speaking to Me

We have a trampoline in our backyard. Growing up, they were open-air. You could launch yourself off in any direction you wanted. Now they have these 6-foot-tall nets around the outer edge to keep the kids from having fun.

A robin flew down onto the middle of the trampoline to grab a little twig or leaf, I assume for a nest it was building, and then tried to take back off. It flew right into the net in front of it. It immediately turned and took off again, and flew right into the net again. It did the same thing 2–3 more times, almost faster than I could keep track, before it finally raised its eyes enough to figure out it had to fly up before it could fly out. In reality, the bird had to LOOK up to get OUT of its predicament.

It is easy to look at this and think, "Dumb bird." But the thought struck me that I am really not any different. I land myself in something, a problem arises, a "net" blocks me...and my eyes focus on the problem. I try to fly out under my own power, wisdom, and resources, and I run right into the net again. I have the same problem the bird had. My vision isn't high enough.

"I lift my eyes to the hills."

Help comes when your vision is where it should be. The psalmist knows where his help comes from, so he also knows where to look. So do I. So why do I not raise my eyes the first time a problem arises — when the "net" of sin, or issues of work, family, or finances attempts to keep me on the ground?

I need to look up.

What Is It Saying to You?

What is the first place you look when a problem arises?

Where do you look for the Lord?

What Are We Going to Do About It?

If something goes wrong today, look up first. Don't look at the problem, look to the hills for help.