The Elusive Cardinal

Did you ever want to take a picture so badly that you risked your life doing it?

Near my home is a gorgeous sanctuary where wildlife, an array of exotic flowers, and plants abound. There’s even a reflecting pool that seems to stretch into eternity.

In the spring, many of the high schools have their prom pictures taken at “Donegal Springs Garden” because there are bridges, walkways, and an abundance of benches and gorgeous backdrops. But I come to the garden to pray, reflect, and give thanks.


After an hour of being in paradise, I walked back to the car and spotted a cardinal on a leafless tree branch just three feet away. I remembered my camera in the car and gingerly opened the door to grab it. When I reached in the glove compartment, I sneezed, and the bird took flight.

Seasonal allergies were the culprit.

But that didn’t stop me, I followed that red-feathered creature all through the park: I climbed over rocks, forged through streams, and fell into a groundhog hole, only to miss the elusive red bird mocking, “You can’t catch me!”

I consoled myself by saying, “I didn’t want a picture of cardinal in spring anyway; I wanted one in the snow!”

Liar.

To tell you the truth—at that point—any red bird would have done! I came home with scrapes, a bruised ego, and probably a few deer ticks.

The elusive cardinal escaped me this time, but I took the opportunity to look around me and find more beauty that I missed the first time because my eye was on just ONE thing—the cardinal!

How many times do we seek after the elusive thing and therefore miss the opportunity to find real beauty…all around us!