Created to Fly

Outside our kitchen window, you can see our back porch light. Above that light is a bird's nest. This isn't the first time and probably won't be the last. It is apparently a good place to build a nest. I enjoy watching the entire process. Momma Bird starts building.  Leaves, small twigs, grass - whatever she can find - are meshed together to form an adequate place to lay her eggs. She is faithful to tend to her eggs. She sits on that nest on bright sunny days and on windy, rainy, dreary days (which we've had a lot of lately). She knows that eventually, her faithfulness will produce the fruit of cute little baby birds. So she sits. She waits.

Finally the day comes that she's been anticipating - the day when the eggs break open, the day when life springs forth. This time, there were 3. The nest seemed quite adequate for the 3 tiny birds. Momma Bird would fly off and come back with something to eat. So cute to watch them. She would wait a little while and fly off again, only to return with more provision for the ones who couldn't currently care for themselves. As the days passed, the little ones became...well, not so little. Three half-grown birds plus Momma Bird in that nest made the nest look not quite so adequate anymore. Momma Bird knew that it was time. I watched her sit on the roof of the house, chirping away. I'm pretty sure she was saying, "Little ones, I love you so much, but you're not living to your full potential sitting there in that nest - you were made for so much more. You were created to fly. Come on now...spread your wings and SOAR!" And they did....eventually. One bird got to the edge of the nest and jumped back in. Mom continued to chirp and that same bird slowly went to the edge and sort of fell off....guess what happened? The bird flew. And so did the other 2. They played follow the leader. It was so fun to watch. Birds have been building nests there for years, but this was the first time I was able to see them fly for the first time.

As I think about how Momma Bird sat and waiting on those eggs to hatch I can't help but be reminded of Psalm 46:10 -- Be still and know that I am God... Patience is not something I possess and regardless of how much I hate it, there are SO many times when God's answer to my prayer at the moment is simply "be still and know that I am God".

Watching the birds brought so many things to mind. I couldn't help but think about how God takes care of us. He is faithful to provide all that we need - even through stormy seasons when we are incapable of caring for ourselves. (Isaiah 40:28-31 -- Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.)

While watching these birds I was reminded that we too were created for so much more than we often realize. We often want to stay in the nest, even though the nest no longer fits. However, when we decide to take a leap of faith He is there cheering us on as we spread our wings and soar. Remember, we were created for a purpose (Ephesians 2:10 -- For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.)