Sucked in, washed up, blown over
Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up and blown over.
The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang; she turned to pick it up and barely said “hello” when “ssssopp!” Chippie got sucked in.
She gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum cleaner and opened the bag. There was Chippie – still alive, but stunned. Since the bird was covered with dust, hair and all the stuff you find in a vacuum bag, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and held Chippie under the running water.
Then, looking upon the soaked and shivering Chippie, she did what any compassionate person would do, she reached for the hair dryer and blasted Chippie with hot air. Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.
A few days after the trauma, a friend inquired about how the bird was recovering. “Well,” she replied, “Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore – he just sits and stares.”
Who can blame him? Sucked in, washed up and blown over, that’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.
Things happen in our lives that come along unexpectedly and we end up feeling a bit like Chippie – sucked in, washed up, and blown over. Suddenly, the disciples were caught in the storm of the century and were feeling like Chippie sucked in, washed up, and blown over. Jesus who was snoring in the stern of the boat was awakened by their hysterical shrieking. He calmed the storm and then said to his disciples: “Hush be still, have you no faith?” (Mk. 4:35-41). In order to keep the song from being stolen from your heart follow the advice of the old song: “Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water.” In order to keep your song from being stolen by fear conquer your fear with faith. Not just faith in anybody or anything, but faith in Jesus “and, you will be able to overcome anything through Christ who strengthens you.” (Phil 4:13).