Good morning..
I went out our back gate and strolled down the familiar sidewalk, knowing that if anyone walked my way I would social distance on the other side of the street. No person came near, but a small, peaceful bunny hopped up beside me. I stood watching the calm creature, lifting a prayer for my forever friend who absolutely loves bunnies. After a few still moments, my eyes noticed movement to my right. I turned to look and, to my surprise, I saw a rich-red-colored cardinal hiding beneath a canopy of leaves, tending to his nest. (I know it was a daddy, since male cardinals wear brilliant red.) After I snapped the picture above, the father bird flew away. So I felt free to move in closer.
What I saw took my breath away. An undifferentiated mass of baby bird bodies. I could make out bald skin, a few wings, a little peach fuzz. Globbed-together were newly born cardinals.
As I slowly got a bit closer, one of the baby birds lifted its head, opened its eyes, and looked at me as I looked back. We remained for a long time, breathing in each other’s presence, two very different creatures respecting the space and the bond between us. The moments were mesmerizing, sacred and soulful.
As soon as I walked back through our gate and into our basement, I texted my good friend who is lives right near the nest. I sent the pictures above and wrote: “I was walking near the railroad tracks by your home, and I spotted a cardinal protecting his nest. When he flew away, I saw three newborn baby birds. I thought of you and your three kids, thinking you guys might want to check out the nest if you are in town.” And I went on to describe for her the exact location.
I added: “I certainly will be checking the nest each day on my walks. It will be delightful to watch these little birds grow up. Enjoy your evening.”
“We are at the beach,” she explained sending a beautiful picture of a palm tree, sand, and water. “It is wonderful here. That kids are having fun and I am recharging my batteries.”
“Oh, how awesome!” I replied. “It looks calm and peaceful. Enjoy recharging. Such an important time to rest and restore, individually and as a family. I will send your kids pictures of the baby birds as they grow. Maybe they will still be here when you return.”
“They will love that! Thank you,” said her final text last night.
“Good morning!” I woke to her text with this photo. “Wishing you a day full of sunshine and rainbows.”
“”Oh, how gorgeous!” I replied. “Now more than ever, we need God’s promise summed up in each rainbow, ‘I am committing Myself forever to care for every living thing.” Thanks for sharing. I will send you pictures of our baby birds after my walk today.”
God continued, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and everything living around you and everyone living after you. I’m putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between me and the Earth. From now on, when I form a cloud over the Earth and the rainbow appears in the cloud, I’ll remember my covenant between me and you and everything living, that never again will floodwaters destroy all life. When the rainbow appears in the cloud, I’ll see it and remember the eternal covenant between God and everything living, every last living creature on Earth” (Genesis 9:12-13, MSG).
“Today the baby birds were chirping really loudly,” I reported alongside this precious picture. “I definitely heard them before I could see them. Their daddy was feeding them so their mouths were open wide. So much transformation all in one day. Amazing.”
Might these be just a few of the living creatures God, long ago, committed to nurture forever?
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29-31, NIV).
…Sue…
