A Word From the Pastor
"To Learn From the Birds"
August 1, 2009

Dear Friends,

It was raining. The thunder and lighting made working on the computer problematic at best. So after shutting everything down, I sat down in front of the study window, thankful for the opportunity to read and meditate.

At one point there was a dramatic pause in the storm. In only a matter of minutes, it was "standing room only" around the bird feeder. As a matter of fact, the entire fence was lined with various kinds of birds waiting for an opportunity to partake of a mid-afternoon snack.

A large crow suddenly appeared from nowhere! In one swoop it cleared the feeder and the fence of any competition! As it tried to perch at the feeder, smaller birds kept fluttering down from the tree branches in an attempt to retrieve at least one beak full of seed. The crow, however, had no intention of sharing. So the moment another bird appeared, it would be chased away. The crow was so busy protecting the seed, it did not have an opportunity to eat.

Just when it appeared that the victory was finally won, a blue jay arrived on the scene. It was every bit as big and determined as the crow. The fight was on! Those two attacked, flapped, and chased each other with such blind intensity that the smaller birds actually had time to come back and feed before the next round of thunderstorms moved in! As far as I could tell, neither the crow nor the blue jay had a morsel of the seed they were fighting so diligently over!

Watching the entire scene, I was reminded of the numerous arguments that occurred between Jesus and the religious rulers. Remember how the Scribes and Pharisees were so intent on protecting their own theological views they actually missed one opportunity after another to follow the Messiah whose appearance they had been anticipating for generations.. Proving their point became more important than feeding their souls! Fighting about the Messiah blinded them to the opportunity of following him.

I think there is a lesson here that, at one time or another, we all need to remember. While it is important to express our opinions and remain faithful to the basic principals of our faith, we should not ignore what others think or believe. We should never become so intent on defending "our way" that we assume it is "God's only way." If we do - if we insist on guarding our opinions and our ways to the exclusion of all others - we will miss so many opportunities to share our faith. And in guarding "our turf," there is always the possibility that it is Christ we are keeping out!

See You in Church,
Pastor Kathleen