The “Hoot” of the Owl

“…the screech owl…” — Isaiah 34:14

Two taxidermists were walking past a sporting goods store and saw an owl in the store front window among some hunting items that were on display. They stopped outside the window to examine the owl and how well it was prepared for display. The one taxidermist said, “Whoever stuffed that owl got the tail feathers wrong.” The other agreed and said, “Yes, and one of the eyes is slightly slanted and the craws are uneven.” Just as they began to walk away, the owl suddenly turned it’s head towards them, hooted, and winked it’s eyes!

Life will do that to us sometimes. We walk along happy-go-lucky, without a care in the world. Then the unexpected happens. The “owl” catches us off guard and “hoots” and winks it’s eye at us—You find out you have cancer… a loved one suddenly dies of a heart attack… a friend has a stroke… you lose your job… your mate wants a divorce… You are suddenly confronted with the “hoot” of an owl you didn’t think was real. The “owl” shocks us into reality.

What do you do when “the owl” hoots in your life? Shoot the owl? Ignore it? Pretend it ain’t there? No… When the owl “hoots” in our lives, it is God getting our attention and reminding us life is serious business. The “hoot” of the owl is God’s summons that it is time to do business with Him!

Don’t run from the “hoot” of the owl… Don’t run from the pain… Answer it. Deal with it. Learn from it. Grow by it. Trust God to use it to make you more like Jesus!