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My Guardian Squirrel
By Kent d Curry
October 24, 2005
I crashed on the park bench under the oak tree. It was Day 3 of a four-day conference and I yearned for relief. At every turn there had been continuing classes and electives and general sessions and late-night meetings; my brain was fogged. I needed a nap. So I slung my bag to the ground, stretched out, and closed my eyes as the cool breeze fluttered.
When I awoke it was staring at me. About 12 feet up the trunk, with only its face and front claws peeking from behind a large knot; eyes unblinking, it sat and stared.
My first foggy thought was it had to be a fake, put there as a prank to surprise people like me. I just hadn’t noticed it when I fell asleep.
Then my mind cleared. A prank was unlikely—it was too far up, too lifelike.
So I stared at it. And it stared at me. And I stared at it.
Finally, its nose twitched. It was alive.
My next class was beginning, but I was too enthralled. I would lay there and watch.
So I watched it. And it watched me. And I watched it.
Finally, it had seen enough. It dipped behind the knot before scrambling up and around the tree into higher branches. I waited a bit longer, but my guardian squirrel didn’t return.
Though it did make me think. Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29, 31).
God keeps His eyes on me, His angels over me, and His spirit in me. Whether I see the physical evidence or not, I know He’s there and He cares. Whether or not you can always see Him doesn’t mean He’s not there for you. As Jesus told Thomas, “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).
On one tired afternoon in June my guardian squirrel reminded me of that essential truth—seeing is not believing.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2005, Kent d Curry
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Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com.