Hidden in Plain Sight

Growing Daily

Hidden in Plain Sight

There’s a sprawling tree in our backyard — actually several trees that have grown together as one.  Its branches stretch low and wide, a maze of intertwined limbs and dense foliage. 

Over time, it’s become a haven for birds, filling the air with a daily symphony.  At first glance, you don’t see them.  It just looks like a tree rustling in the breeze.  But if you stop and focus, you begin to notice little movements. One by one, birds start to appear.  A flash of wings.  A flutter of feathers.  A head peeking out from the leaves.  

It reminds me of those old 3D posters.  What was once hidden suddenly emerges from the background. 

Perhaps that's one reason God invites us to be still.  Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God!”

Stillness and focus don't make God more present; they make us more aware of His presence.

In the rush of daily life, God can seem silent or distant. But when we pause, lean in, and fix our attention on Him, we begin to recognize His handiwork all around us.  Maybe not all at once, but gently, beautifully.  

Like the birds hidden in the branches, evidence of God's presence is often closer than we realize.  We just need to slow down long enough to see it.


- Ron Reid