Wise owl

Lily Cathcart August 02, 2023 3 4

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1 Kings 3: 5-12 (NRSVA)

5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ 6 And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.

Solomon asked for the tools to do his job really well and for this request he was given the gift of wisdom.

This makes me think of owls. Not just because they are thought of as wise, something to do with their big eyes and solemn looks, but because they do their job really really well.

Owls are almost silent in flight, have you ever seen one fly? It’s amazing. Then there is the way they can turn their heads and their eyes which are so big for picking up light where we can see almost nothing. Some even have ears in different positions on each side of their head so they can triangulate where a sound is really coming from mid-flight. They are suited so well to their way of life.

Sometimes I wish I was more like Solomon, or more like an owl. Able to discern the right direction between two different messages, able to see light in the darkness, gifted with the tools I need to be really good at my life. But then I remember, I do have gifts. Perhaps not the wisdom of Solomon, or the silence of an owl on the hunt but I have gifts waiting to be treasured and polished and grown.

PRAYER:

Dear God of wisdom and flight

Thank you that you have given us all gifts to help us in this life

Please guide us to the ways and places to use them

Teach us the patience to grow in our abilities and in your love

Amen