Good morning…
After teaching our Zoom class in the cozy quiet of our newly decorated church parlor, I packed up my candle and laptop, I gathered my phone and purple notebook, and, after talking with a few friends on the staff, I walked out into the brick courtyard on the way to our car. Just outside the door, I was shocked by an unexpected sight. About four feet from the exit laid a dead bird. With differing shades of blue-grey, darker color on the wings, and a striking yellow stripe on the tip of its tail, this soft, plump body rested motionless on the mossy bricks.
I stopped to notice, admiring the beautiful creature, wondering what had happened to end this precious life. It felt wrong for me to leave this recently breathing bird in such a harsh, exposed place. So I put down my purse and my bag filled with stuff, and I searched for a few large sticks. Gently I picked up the lifeless body, and I placed it in the pine straw protected by a wall.
The white and yellow underbelly had a beauty all its own, and the light outline around the black beak made its facial features stand out. Somehow it felt honoring to God for me to lay this simple creature to rest in a soft, nurturing spot. Prodded by the Spirit, I felt God’s call to caretake for all of creation rising up from within.
Thinking back on the sacred experience, two Scripture verses now combine to fill my mind.
God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth” (Genesis 1:26, MSG).
“What is the value of your soul to God? Could your worth be defined by an amount of money? God doesn’t abandon or forget even the small sparrow he has made. How then could he forget or abandon you? What about the seemingly minor issues of your life? Do they matter to God? Of course they do! So you never need to worry, for you are more valuable to God than anything else in this world” (Luke 12:6-7, TPT).
Every living thing is important to our LORD. Created in God’s image, reflecting the loving nature of the Father, the Son, the Spirit, we humans are designed as caregivers for each creature given breath. I know I mindlessly wasted many moments granted me last Monday, but the few minutes I took quietly tending to this tiny bird felt very well spent.
…Sue…
