My husband, John loves birds. He’s taught me that a birder has to pay attention and learn to see (just like in creating art). For a while, we had a pair of brightly colored goldfinches hanging around our feeder. Well, at least the male is brightly colored…the female, sadly not so much. There is goodness in watching them swoop and flutter and dart about.
These birds reflect both the beautiful creativity of God and his care for all creatures. In Matthew 6 Jesus says this:
I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
According to this verse, Jesus is suggesting a bit of birdwatching as a help to overcoming our worry habits. In his book, A Non-Anxious Life, Alan Fadling states that watching birds is good for our souls, that birds can become our teachers in non-anxious living.
Fadling writes, “My anxieties are a kind of soul amnesia. I forget that God is constantly caring and providing for me. Perhaps this is why God invites us to “remember” so often in Scripture. Remembering the care of God is a good practice for our souls.”
A prayer in closing…
Dear God, would you help us remember how valuable we are to you, our Creator? In the uncertainty and craziness of our world right now, it’s so easy to forget.
Jesus, may we be like the birds you mentioned, with eyes waiting and focused on you to supply what we need. Bring to mind all the ways you have provided for us in the past.
And Holy Spirit, when we feel overwhelmed with worry or fear, would you please comfort us with your deep and lavish love? Amen.