Free as a Bird

It was a crisp autumn morning. In the distance, the grapevine and fig tree were losing their leaves. A light breeze stirred the dried weeds under the olive trees. I sat in stillness on the balcony of our apartment. My worn Bible was opened to Luke chapter twelve.

Luke 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? Not one of them has been forgotten before Elohim. But even the hairs of your head have all been numbered. Do not fear, you are worth more than many sparrows.”

I continued to read, meditating on my Savior's wise and comforting words.

Luke 12: 22-24 “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you shall eat; nor about the body, what you shall put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Look at the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor granary, and Elohim feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds?”

Do not worry—the command was so simple, but I had to be honest with myself. It was difficult to do. My worries were clear and abundant. My large family lived with very tight finances and many unknowns. I worried about the rent and utility bills. I worried about not having enough to eat. Most of all, I worried about the purpose and meaning of my life. Was I truly going somewhere or accomplishing something valuable to YHWH and others?

Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by birds. There were so many of them. A host of chatty sparrows flew overhead, landed in the pine trees, and jubilantly danced from branch to branch. Soon they were joined by a murmuration of Tristan Starlings, flapping their bright orange wings. The starlings soared freely under the blue sky, over the olive orchard, and rested on the telephone wire. In harmony, they sang a sweet melody. Their innocence and liberty could be heard in the song. Whether they knew it or not, it was clear to me that the birds were singing praise to their Maker. I began to wonder if YHWH had sent them to teach me something.

What made the birds so free? Was it because they had wings or because they were free of care? The birds were not bound by the worries of man. They were not concerned about whether they got enough sleep, whether they had enough time in the day, or whether they looked good in their old clothes. They were not fretting over their next meal. Somehow they knew their Creator provided for them. They were able to sing for joy because they had everything they needed. The birds were a parable.

With many troubles pressing upon our mortal minds, we often lose sight of the bigger picture. Our worries can act as shackles, restricting us from living with the fullness of faith, understanding, and joy that YHWH wants to give. We do not know what lies ahead in our path of sojourning, and we fear what we do not know. Worry is something we all have in common. But in those precious moments when the Spirit of Truth comes upon us, our perception changes shape. All worries about this life seem of absolutely no account. Taking flight, they disperse and vanish like sparrows in the air. We are left as free as a bird.

As I reflected on this, I knew my family had chosen to follow our heavenly Father and seek the coming Kingdom of His Son. Our needs were not forgotten. YHWH would continue to nourish us as we walked with Him.

Luke 12: 31 Seek the reign of Elohim, and all these shall be added to you.