The temperature has been unseasonably warm, the mosquitos have yet to die, and I’m feeling out of sorts. You know the times you want to bury your head in the sand and only emerge when everything is right? I am in one of those seasons.

I used to think burying your head was a sign of inadequacy and a cop-out. It seems that walking a mile in the shoes of “out of sorts” does wonders for adjusting premature evaluations. Burying your head in the sand is not always equivalent to avoiding difficult situations, conversations, or relationships.

My initial reaction to this “out of sorts” transition season is to hide, bury my head in the sand, and hope for the best. You know why? I love order. I thrive on order. Order is my love language! Transitions are filled with unknowns and unexpected set changes. Unknown feels a lot like disorder to this order loving girl.

As sleep eluded me last night, my thoughts kicked into high-speed. I started thinking about flamingos-strange, I know. I opened my computer and began gathering information about flamingos because I had a vague memory they were known to bury their heads in water.

In muddy flats or shallow water, they use their long legs and webbed feet to stir up the bottom. They then bury their bills, or even their entire heads, and suck up both mud and water to access the tasty morsels within. A flamingo’s beak has a filter like structure to remove food from the water before the liquid is expelled.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/greater-flamingo/

Read that again. Did you catch what’s happening when they bury their bill or head in the water? They are feeding. Nourishment is found as they go beneath the surface. Ah-ha! Not all buried heads are avoiding interaction, after all.

Maybe you’re facing health concerns, battling a deep depression, searching for a job opportunity, or wrestling with shame. I don’t know what your season of transition is, but I can imagine it’s filled with plenty of unknowns. You would probably welcome the presence of order, too.

I hope you can grab hold of this encouragement today: nourishment can be found even in seasons where you want to bury your head in the sand. A flamingo was made to search for food in the water. We were made to feast on encouragement and hope in seasons of transition and turbulence. Even with your head buried you can send a text to a friend sharing your need. You might be compelled to search scripture, go for a walk, or sing your favorite song. Nourishment can be found, but we have to want to be fed.

Today I’m choosing to be honest with myself about this season. It’s harder than I’d like and I have hurt and anger to work through. I buried my head this morning, but this time I wasn’t avoiding anything. I was stirring the muddy waters in search of nourishment. Words of encouragement from a friend filled my spirit and quieted my racing heart. I opened my bible and began drinking in the wisdom of scripture.

I used to think burying your head was a sign of inadequacy or a cop-out. Now I know that there is nourishment to be found under the surface of muddied waters.

Be filled today, friends!