For Lord’s Day, March 6, 2022

Dear Saints,

Today, I was reminded of the following Scripture by two little friends toying with me outside the window of the church’s copier room while I was making bulletins:

Matthew 6:26: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

As we have often meditated on this verse together with sermons and studies, let us recall how blessed we are to behold the birds!  God sends them to flight and flutter all around us every day and night, reminding us that we are always under His fatherly care—so we need not worry about tomorrow and can instead focus on enjoying something about today no matter our situation.

And today, while making copies, I heard a rat-a-tat-tatting on the window to my left.  The blind was down, but I peeked through with my fingers to see what I suspected: a bird was there seeking my attention.  Actually, two birds, one brown and one colorful (I suspect a “mommy” and “daddy” likely preparing a nest together around the corner).  They truly seemed to be asking me to let them in or to come out and play with them as they pecked the window pane through which we were nose and beak studying each other curiously and fondly.

      

When I later looked for them outdoors beside the fireside room across the small grassy pass, there they were still fluttering around back and forth between the wire and the copy room window bars soaking in the sun.  I took pictures and videos to share with the family and I offer them to you here for your enjoyment.  I can’t tell you how much my heart swooned with joy to watch and interact with them (I laughed and almost cried).  

This close encounter of the feathered kind reminded me of what I witnessed earlier, about a month ago, during a heavy rain.  Outside the church kitchen by the side of the sanctuary there were some similar birds “showering” and rolling around “taking a bath” in the puddled moats of the deep, grass trimmer-warn edges of the lawn along the sidewalks.  These little chirpers seemed to be so engrossed in the pure joy of play just as our sons are when we splash about in the YMCA’s outdoor pool.  They were having a grand old time!

And then, also today, walking from my office toward the church kitchen, I saw a bluebird swooping toward the breezeway trying to beat me there.  Quickly, it reversed its course back over the shed careening into the back lot.  But before it raced away, I saw a tuft of dry grass and twigs carried in its beak.  I had just told our son Gabriel that very soon I imagined the bluebirds would be back building their nest in the breezeway hall above and across from the second bathroom.  Like they do every year.  And every year, I often startle them passing by their nook on my way to my office—and they return the favor, spooking me as they zoom past my head while I duck, until baby season is over.  And sure enough, as I peered up to the hallway’s overhang between wall and ceiling I discovered there indeed is a new nest in process of construction exactly where it is every year (which I expected as the same bluebird startled me jetting out over me just a few nights ago while I walked through the breezeway unassumingly).  Soon there again will be hatchlings stretching out their necks with open mouths screeching to have their tummy’s filled with new earthy tastes by their parents—just enough above the nests’s rim to allow us to get a glimpse of their downy heads and smile if we care to pause and gander and ponder and give praise.

What a blessing to have the birds so consistently, year after year, remind us what Jesus commands us:  Don’t worry about tomorrow.  I will take care of you.  Enjoy today.  Make a moment.  Learn how to live life like the birds.  Trust and rejoice in My Father.

Do you need a break to enjoy your day?  Go outside and look for some birds and watch them for a while.  Maybe some herons roosting in bayside treetops at J-street harbor in Chula Vista.  Or ducks swimming along a community park pond (bring some bread to share with them!).  Or seagulls parasailing the chilly Pacific wind on outspread wing.  Or pelicans patrolling the cliffs of La Jolla Cove in their predictable military formation.  Or the sandpipers racing back and forth with the rhythm of the wavelets as they peck for hidden crustacean treats beneath the beach at ocean’s edge.

Or learn to listen to the chirps and caws and hoots and singing all around you, and imagine them in your mind’s eye as you close your eyes and feel the breeze—even overnight.

And remember:   

The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. (Psalm 104:16-17)

To remind you:

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. (Psalm 104:14-15)

That we would respond in such praise:

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches …The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works … I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD … Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 104:24, 31, 33-35)

Beloved, behold the birds and be blessed!

Semper Reformanda,

Pastor Grant

(AKA: Mr. Bird Brain)

PS:  On my way back from the bathroom to my office, just before I opened the door to return to my desk and complete this e-devotion, I saw a gorgeous orange butterfly flittering and gliding over the bushes in the distance.  Just for some icing on the cake!