"Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows."

--Jesus in Luke 12:7

A drama unfolded outside our front window. Earlier in the spring, some birds built a nest in the rafters. Stick by stick, straw by straw they shaped a beautiful oval basket where the mama bird could lay her eggs. Later, she sat on the nest.  Through rain and storm she sat.Through heat and wind she sat. Then, one day, some baby beaks appeared, pleading for the worms and bugs the mama bird brought them to eat.

So far, so good, right? It's a scene that replays itself every spring--eggs hatching, baby birds growing strong and then flying away. But here's where the drama comes in.

One day I noticed a young bird slouched in the corner of the patio. He was wailing-not peeping-wailing. Where was his mother? Turned out, she was not far away--just beyond the cement in the grass. She called to the baby to walk over to her.  The baby did not budge. She sat on rim of the dog's water dish and showed the baby how to sip a few drops and then raised her beak to let the water slide down her throat.  The baby did not budge. She sat a few feet away and flapped her wings to show the baby that he could fly. No response.

This went on all day until it began getting dark. Finally, the mother came over and butted the baby bird with her head.  The baby wailed. She prodded it again and again until finally the baby bird began to run just to get away from the discomfort. The mama bird continued to pursue the baby all around the yard.  The baby bird continued to run, getting 

stronger with each step.

Sometimes a mama bird has to do a little head butting to get a baby bird to do what it must do to live.

Sometimes God has to do a little head butting to get us to move, and live, and thrive. 

Felt any prodding lately?

Faithfully,

Ruth Fletcher, Regional Minister