After many days of rain and messy weather, Harry and I were enjoying the sunshine Monday morning and doing a little tidying up around our back patio. Harry had the leaf blower going full blast and I was making a lot of noise and movement as well as I moved items around to help him. I glanced over at a bird feeder near the patio and spotted a little finch of some kind just chilling out in the bird feeder. I believe it is an American Goldfinch female with winter plumage. At first, I thought maybe it was hurt or had hit a window or the french doors and was stunned momentarily. As I crept closer and closer to the bird feeder, I realized that the little bird was apparently sound asleep, just enjoying the morning sun. He had his eyes closed and was leaning back against the side of the feeder. I closely watched it for probably 10 seconds, close enough to reach out and stroke its sweet little head. I didn't touch it, though I was surely tempted to, as I respected its enjoyment of the sun and I wanted to continue to enjoy watching it. All of a sudden, the little fellow opened its eyes, not startled or frightened, but just calm and serene. It looked at me as if to say, "Do you mind? I'm resting here." After a few seconds, just like that, it flew away toward the barn. I watched to see its flight because I still wasn't sure that it wasn't hurt in some way, and I was relieved to see it flying and cavorting with other birds at the barn. Precious moment over.
As I reflect on this special moment between bird and human, it reminded me of our Sunday School lesson for January 6, 2019. The topic was how the Wise Men traveled a great distance as they followed the Star with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They wanted to find the King of the Jews in order to worship Him. We were challenged by the lesson to find ways to really worship Jesus as the Wise Men did in our daily comings and goings. We talked about looking at the stars at night and just worshipping Jesus for His power and His creation. We talked about how we should be humbled and awed at the majesty and power of God's creation. But I found my focus of worship today as I looked at that little bird. Jesus told us that even the birds don't worry and that if God cares for one of them, surely He cares about us. Seeing this little bird resting on my bird feeder without a care in the world reminded me of that. That little bird was confident, restful, at peace, and just enjoying the sunshine that God had made! Just like that little bird,we can be confident, restful, and at peace knowing that God cares for us. He wants good for us, and we can have peace through our relationship with Jesus. Of course, we know that the reality is that life is not without its challenges and dangers! The whole time I was enjoying the little bird, I was perusing my surroundings to make sure my two cats, LC (Lucky Cat) and Charlie, were not around. I love my cats but they are country cats and have been known to catch a bird or two. That doesn't make me happy but I am a pragmatist and I know that nature will follow its course. LC and Charlie are not without their merits however. They spend most of their waking hours patrolling the hay barns and equipment sheds, hunting mice and rats. We do not have a rodent problem anywhere around the house or barns, so I have to give them their due even if they do catch the occasional bird.
That innocent little bird, not paying attention to its surroundings, at peace and content, was blissfully unaware that two cats could be lurking nearby. Just as we go through our day to day activities, we can be blissfully unaware that the Devil is lurking nearby, waiting to pounce! As we worship Jesus, we need to make sure that we flee from temptation, knowing that like that little bird, we will be free to fly away to the Heavens some day!
"Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more than food and the body more than clothes?
Matthew 6: 25-26
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