Wise as an Owl

"Because God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." 1 Corinthians 1:25, HCSB.

There is a continually growing list of the animals that have rudely awakened me during the night hours in the Philippines.  Rodents have been the most frequent cause of interrupted sleep.  One of my most frightening experiences occurred when I was awakened by a garbage-dump sized rat who decided to take a midnight stroll up my bare leg.  On another occasion, a rat decided to share my pillow with me, inspecting my face from just a few inches away.  Most recently I was awakened by a small mouse that was sneaking a midnight snack on my right index finger for nutritional value know only to him.  A weak stomach keeps me from reviewing stories of intrusive cockroaches exploring my person.  From my selfish view of life, the night watch is for sleeping, not zoological exploration. 

However, in spite of these distractions, I have to give the blue ribbon to yet another species of animal that chose to wake me up last night – an owl.  There are not too many ways to spell “owl,” so you can be assured that you read the word correctly.  Yes, several nights during the past week, a live owl has perched on various parts of my body while I was sleeping.  The first time it happened, it almost gave me a heart attack.  During subsequent nights, I just shouted “Hoopes!  Get off!” and he flew away. 

Allow me to explain.  Several weeks ago a friend of mine found a baby owl in the jungle and discerned correctly that I would be interested in becoming its surrogate father. Hoopes has free run of the apartment, much like a house dog or cat.  Mostly during the day, he stays on one of his perches and sleeps.  Once darkness pours across the sky, however, he comes alive.  Of course, being hand fed from a chick, he is completely tame.  Anyone can handle him.  In spite of the almost nightly visitations, usually no earlier than 5:30 a.m., he has become a good companion and has delighted a number of children who have come to visit.  For the record, his name is “Hoopes,” named in honor of a good friend of mine here on Mindanao, Al Hoopes.  Get it?  “Al” equals “Owl”. 
 
There are, of course, more things to a missionary’s life than having dreams shattered in the middle of the night by various critters.  One of my dreams is coming true as I feel that I am becoming an effective trainer of pastors and church workers.  During the past couple of months I have been traveling a lot, promoting a new church planting program I have put together.  Right now it is getting rave reviews from people who are using it.  Yesterday I finished a three-day seminar and after my prayer, twenty-eight men stood up and began applauding.  That was a first for me!  So many testimonies were given on how this program had already changed their lives and ministries.  I wish you could hear some of the stories of people growing deeper in their walk with the Lord.  Sadly, I wish I had taken the time to put all these principles together a decade ago, but I guess I needed the practical experience before all these things could fit together.  Right now I am seeing a convergence of knowledge and experience coming together in a powerful way.  This training is reaching many places on Mindanao and the Visayan Island chain. 

Perhaps I am finally becoming as wise as an owl, as the story goes!  And maybe it has helped to have one living with me in the apartment. 

By: Jim Walker, an IMB missionary serving in the Philippines.

Pray that:

Pacific Rim workers will continue to seek effective ways to train others in church planting principles.

Training programs in the Philippines will result in bold and powerful leaders who can impact the nation for Christ.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.