Today is the first day of spring. It is such a beautiful day! The brilliant sun shines in a clear blue sky. A perfect day that only God can create. My thoughts travel back to a spring day in my childhood…..

In the spring, the stream behind my house is full of crawdads. You know the creepy little creatures that look like miniature lobsters? For us kids, hunting these critters is a favorite pastime. This morning I walk down to the stream and cross it on a foot log made from a fallen tree. In the crystal-clear water I can see the crawdads resting motionless in the bed of the stream, ever alert to danger.

It is a very warm day, so sitting in the grass beside the stream I pull off my sneakers and socks and wade in. Although the weather is quite warm, the water, having still the icy chill of winter, stings my toes. But the feet of this veteran quickly adjust, and then the hunt begins. Bending over with my hands ready to grab I wade cautiously along seeking my prey. All at once I spy a solitary crawdad near the rocky edge of the stream. It sits on the sandy bottom seemingly oblivious to my approach. I stealthily move in a little closer to position myself for the attack.

Poised above the prey I ready my attack. One-two-three and I’ll have him. I look warily at the pinchers on the front appendages. Then, I gather my courage. I blink my eyes, and like a magician the crawdad disappears leaving in its place a small muddy cloud. For a moment I wondered if it had really been there at all.

Though this first attempt is unsuccessful I am not one to accept failure. So, undaunted, I resume the hunt. This time I won’t blink.