In life there are those things that you just can’t plan for. They come along when you are least expecting them, and you just have to deal with the consequences.

My unexpected experience happened during my first-period class this week while I was outside practicing for a parade with the band. It was a nice day so I had left the outside classroom door open while we were gone.

When we came back to the room we were stunned to see a hummingbird flying around the room. This small creature incited pandemonium amongst the sixth-grade band students.

As the hummingbird flitted and buzzed ove-head the students created chaos below.

When the bell rang and sixth-grade choir was entering, I was able to instruct that class to remain quiet so they wouldn’t scare the tiny creature. They responded well to the bird’s needs.

In the meantime, the maintenance department was planning a bird extraction strategy which included a large fishing net attached to a pole.

A lot of discussion and “what ifs” were floating around during this planning time but it was really all a guessing game based on the unknown reaction of the hummingbird.

All this strategizing took time, and the little bird became tired and sat down on the top of the band folder cabinet.

Second period came to a close and the teacher next door to me asked if I would like her to take my third period class so I could deal with the little hummingbird myself. I said “yes.”

The class was gone, the maintenance guy was out buying a net and it was just me and the bird. I decided this was beyond my realm of expertise so I prayed for help from God.

I told God that I knew this wasn’t a huge item in life, but that this bird and I needed guidance so that the small animal wouldn’t get hurt.

It was at that point, I shut off all the lights in the classroom so the bird could see that through the door there was a lot of sunshine and freedom and I left the room.

I left the hummingbird in God’s care.

When I came back a half-hour later, the bird was gone. I was standing there wondering if the maintenance guy had come back and captured him when said maintenance guy walked in.

“Where is the bird?” he asked.

I told him it left. He asked me what I did and I said that I prayed for help.

“That usually goes the trick,” he said and, on that note, we went back to life as usual.

People are just like hummingbirds. They sometimes take a wrong turn in life and just need to be directed to the light.

Jesus is the light of the world who gave himself as the one and only perfect sacrifice for our sins. Our Lord is calling to you.

Maybe today you’ll see the light toward which Christ has been directing you.