A storm was forming in the west after a beautiful day of sunshine, and we watched to see how it might affect the activity of the bluebirds. We knew it to be close to fledging time, and there were new behaviors by both parents this day. While each were bringing increased amounts of food to the birdhouse just outside our kitchen window, the father had begun to issue an urgent call. He brought spiders, grasshoppers and grubs, but withheld them, hovering close to the opening, as if to say, “If you want it, you’ll have to be brave and come out to get it.” We saw little baby bird faces peek out. The female seemed to come less, though she still brought her catch, and delivered it to hungry and open mouths. We never heard a call from her. This went on for much of the afternoon, before the storm started to stir, and when it did, my mother’s heart wondered if it was a good day to fledge after all? There was not only a storm coming, but a black raven sitting on a light pole, just beyond the birdhouse. He looked very big and very black.
God uses my yard and the habitat around us to teach me much. The babies didn’t fledge yesterday, and they still haven’t. They heard the call, and they responded by coming to attention and peering out, however briefly. It was like a ‘dry run’ of sorts, and their little heads were tentative at first, growing more curious and coming out a little further each time. It was a time of acclimation to something that was clearly very new and different from their newborn surroundings. Today, they are peeking out, even without being called, though there have been periodic increased and more urgent calls from the father throughout the day. A change, while clearly challenging and maybe a little scary, is now being anticipated and prepared for by these immature and not-yet-very-beautiful little birds. They look unsure and gawky. I’ve watched that birdhouse most of the day, and there is lots of activity within. I can’t help wonder what they feel. I have known feelings of newness and anticipated change and my response may not have been so very different from theirs. Anxiousness and excitement have kissed in those times, and I’ve felt immature, unsure and gawky. I don’t think our responses are so very different. Often those feelings have come to me, even before a storm, when only gray clouds are visible and there is no silver lining in sight, but a call has been issued from my Father, and even if I am initially tentative, He gives me courage to somehow heed. And when He has issued the call, and I have heeded, then, in His perfect timing, practicing through the ‘dry runs’ and growing in confidence, however awkwardly, I can take flight. It is His plan and design. And, I believe today, the timing may be right for them as well, that they might take flight. Another storm is on looming, but my heart soars in knowing that just as there is a design and season for my flight, there is one for these little ones as well. They will finally heed their father’s voice, and they will soar. It is His design to know the voice of a father.
Ecc 3:1 TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:
Ecc 3:2 A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted, [Heb. 9:27]
Ecc 3:3 A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up,
Ecc 3:4 A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Ecc 3:5 A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
Ecc 3:6 A time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away,
Ecc 3:7 A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak, [Amos 5:13]
Ecc 3:8 A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. [Luke 14:26]
