I was stressed. Anxious. Nerves frayed. Totally done. And I noticed a little bird was searching for supper.
Let me back up. I live in a smallish town where rush hour traffic means leaving five minutes early. But this weekend I was far from home in Toronto to attend a home economics teaching conference on the Saturday. Since I attended school 12 hours away from home and I have travelled long distances on my own before, I was confident and even excited for the challenges of big city driving!
Sunday morning I drove 40 minutes to church in downtown Toronto, then found a coffee shop for a snack and caffeine, and finally arrived at IKEA after fighting rush hour traffic. Trying to navigate IKEA was like trying to find my way through a mirror-filled corn maze by myself in the dark with a blindfold on. It was CRAZY. (I’m glad I had the wherewithal to get food before shopping so that I had the fortitude to not collapse after wandering for 45 minutes in the showroom.) Because the stop was way longer than I anticipated, and I was totally finished with people, traffic, big highways, and being on my own. After managing to pack large furniture into a tiny car in what felt like -100 C, I managed to get on my way home (after driving in a circle, been told 3 different directions by my GPS and phone and discovering the road I was supposed to use was closed).
Suffice it to say, I was close to a complete meltdown.
While I was stopped at a red light, movement by the concrete median caught my eye. I saw a little bird by the side of the curb, jumping up and down trying to get seeds out of some bush grass growing in the small median. I was mesmerized as this bird kept at it, seemingly oblivious to the danger not 2 feet away. I was struck by the memory of a Scripture verse:
“This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height] by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you—you of little faith? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
In midst of my chaos, God stopped me and reminded me of His loving protection. In the simplicity of a little bird eating her supper, focusing on the task at hand despite the peril around her, God reminded me that I am in the palm of His hand. God cares for me! Why should I be afraid? He loves me and is watching over me whether I am at home or in Toronto, about to lose it or relaxing, whether I read my Bible that morning or slept in. God cares.
I tend to take matters into my own hands and forget that I am not in control. I forget that there is nothing good in me apart from what Christ has done in me (John 15:5). I try to impress Him and others by my success and independence. When I set out on this trip, I had pride in my ability to tackle any challenge that came my way and by the Sunday afternoon I was at the end of my rope. I was humbled by my circumstances. When I asked for help (after His gentle reminder), He calmed my nerves, got me on the right road, and got me home safely.
Every now and then, the Lord allows me to see my situation from His perspective. That moment with the bird has stayed with me since that Sunday in November. I believe that God can speak to us in pictures and this was one of those times.
Application Questions:
Can you recall a time when God has protected and provided for you? Psalm 77:11.
For more read the following: John 10:28 - 30 & Psalm 131:2
Comments