Cardinal Don Quixote

We recently had a rather curious visitor at our house. A male cardinal decided that our back porch door was enemy number one. For several days on end, from dawn to dusk, this bird persistently postured, threatened, tormented, assaulted and attacked our sliding glass door.

I sat eating my breakfast on successive days, pondering what had gotten into the little creatures head. The cardinal was our evening entertainment at the dinner table that week, as the kids and adults discussed ways to discourage him from his futile endeavors. We, of course, dubbed him ‘Don Quixote’. We told our children what we could remember of Cervantes’ epic tale, “The Man from La Mancha”. My daughter was particularly keen to understand why the old man went tilting, or jousting, at windmills. Why didn't he have anything better to do? My son was simply impressed by the concept of electing to become a knight, and finding gallant and noble acts to perform.

So, we attempted to scare D.Q. away, mostly out of fear that he would exhaust himself, or knock himself out flying into the glass repeatedly - and then be gobbled up by a greedy cat. We flapped and waved our hands in his direction, but these actions seemed only to strengthen his resolve. We taped tin-foil strips to the outside, hoping that would cause him to reconsider his pursuit. However, this might have been viewed as an escalation in the conflict, further justifying the bird’s righteous anger. I envied Don’s fortitude, but wished I comprehended what he was fighting for.

No one was around when Don Quixote finally ended his week-long campaign. There were no ruby-colored feathers to be found, so we all hoped for the best, in terms of his health and well-being. Cardinal Don’s peace treaty with the glass door was as unilateral as his declaration of war. I cannot help but feel that this bird’s "6 Day War" mirrored much of our own daily experience. What are we fighting for? How can we end the insanity of striving towards goals that are nonsensical and without purpose? How may we find peace and comfort in a hostile world that stands as stolid and incomprehensible as a sliding glass door?

A voice is heard in Ramah

Every once-in-awhile, there are days that I wish I could just fast-forward through. Today was one of those days. My company was sold recently, and today was the day of the first round of layoffs. Thankfully, I already knew, with reasonable certainty, that I'd be spared this time. I also had a general idea of who would be let go. Let me tell you, I'm glad that I haven't had to look those people in the eye this past week. My boss wasn't so fortunate, and I know it was gut-wrenching for him to let those folks know that their services would no longer be required.

I am blessed to have a wife with a fantastic career, so I really wasn't fretting too much that we wouldn't be able to survive, if I did lose my job. I also have an optimistic streak, and faith in Jehovah Jireh, that wouldn't allow me to be crushed by a career set-back. Unfortunately, that isn't the case for several of my associates. I am praying about how I might be a blessing to one or more of those who have been let go.

We have worked with some of these people for many, many years- no matter which way I look at it, this just sucks. The company I work for used to be like a family. That has gradually been eroding for several years. We closed an office in Irvine awhile ago, followed by an office in Philly, and now our parent company has sold us to a competitor. I have no idea how I will fit in with the new organization. They seem ok with having me work remotely from my bunker in Nebraska. I just don't know if I want to be down here anymore...

Is this another nudge from God to hear a calling to something else? I wish I knew where this was heading.

A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. --Jeremiah 31:15