A matter of trust
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6: 26-27, 34)
I’ve always loved wildlife. With the exception of creepy crawlies and reptiles that slither, it’s safe to say that I’m enamored by all of God’s creatures. After rescuing a green anole from underneath a senior manager’s credenza at work – picture a small lizard that looks like the Geico gecko – I’ve gotten a reputation as the person to call for help with any unwanted office critters.
This week, our security guard contacted me when a bird flew into the lobby window. She and a member of our cleaning staff were staring at the bird on the ground when I arrived.
“I think his leg is broken,” our guard said. “It doesn’t look right. He hit the glass with a thud and fell down.”
“I hope he’s alright,” I said, as I observed the poor creature lying on the sidewalk next to the window. The bird’s leg appeared to be at an odd angle, but I silently prayed that he wasn’t seriously injured.
“He was likely just stunned by the impact,” I said. “He’s alert and sitting up, which is a good sign. He’s beautiful!”
The yellow coloring on the bird’s breast was stunning, but his olive back feathers looked different than any bird I had ever seen before. I love birdwatching but am far from a novice at identification. Further investigation later revealed that he was a young Kentucky warbler.
The spot where the bird sat was a high-traffic area, so I wanted to move him and see if he could recover away from the hustle and bustle of our building’s main entrance.
Ever so slowly, I walked over to the warbler and squatted down to take a better look at him. Without expecting much, I placed my hand in front of his chest.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the bird hopped right onto my fingers, which completely surprised me. I didn’t want to frighten my new feathered friend, so I let him sit there for a minute while snapping a few photos to capture the encounter.
“Wow,” said our cleaning lady.
“Wow, is right,” I repeated. “He pulled his leg up for support when moving to my hand. I think he’s okay.”
Standing up, I turned to walk to the closest bushes. I intended to sit the bird on the ground below the shrubs and check on him later.
As I approached the greenery, the warbler showed different intentions as he flew off my hand and straight into the inner boughs of the plants.
“He flew in!” I exclaimed, happy to see him flying.
Peering inside, I could see the tiny bird sitting on a branch, clearly supported by both legs. “He’s okay!” I reported as I stepped back inside my workplace.
“You did your good deed for the day,” pronounced a co-worker, who had chanced to witness the whole event.
“I’m just happy he’s okay,” I responded.
What a fantastic experience, I thought. Such a blessing!
Upon returning to my desk, it dawned on me what an education I’d received through this unexpected encounter with a tiny member of Christ’s kingdom. Wanting to pass along the blessing, I sent my bird photos to a friend of mine, who had recently shared her prayer requests with me.
“God just provided me with a tangible lesson in trust,” I wrote, as I explained the morning’s events.
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life? Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6: 26-27, 34)
According to an April 2020 Gallup poll, 60 percent of Americans feel stress and anxiety every day – a 14 percent increase from summer 2019 stress levels and a 21 percent increase in worries. (1)
How often do we take our eyes off our Savior and surrender our thoughts to our concerns? I admit to doing so much too frequently. As Oswald Chambers said, “All our fret and worry is caused by calculating without God.” Is it any wonder we are so driven by our anxieties?
Such trepidation could be avoided by giving our cares to our Creator each day. As Christ said, we can’t change the future by worrying about it. God knows what tomorrow will bring, and that thought should give us peace and confidence in His care.
The next time I feel anxious about something, I will remember the little warbler who placed his trust in me as he hopped into my outstretched hand. If a bird could so easily trust a stranger, how much more should I relinquish my burdens to my heavenly Father who loves me? I only need to step into the hands of the Almighty to do so.
Reference:
- Searing, L. (2020, April 30). 60 percent of U.S. adults are feeling daily stress and worry, new Gallup poll shows. Washingtonpost.com. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/60-percent-of-us-adults-are-feeling-daily-stress-and-worry-new-gallup-poll-shows/2020/04/17/13ce9d8a-7ffd-11ea-a3ee-13e1ae0a3571_story.html