We have a couple of sparrows who live somewhere around the house here in Quito. A lot of mornings they hop around the metal bars on our windows and chirp at each other. I like those little guys because they remind me of me.
They are ordinary. Not rich, famous or exciting. They're common. Birdwatchers don't begin their year hoping to catch their first sparrow. Microsoft popped up a screensaver of an amazing snowy owl. These two will never be photographed. And certainly would never make the Microsoft screenshot list.
This morning I came downstairs and there one was sitting on the bar. He looked rough, like he'd been out drinking all night or his wife kicked him out of the nest. It's cold and rainy. His feathers were all bushed out and wet and the ones on his head looked like he had slept on them wrong, jutting out in all directions.
I thought, "Yeah Buddy, I've felt that way a few mornings too."
We seem to be afraid in America. Of North Korea, Russia, the economy, crime and violence. And we seem to be afraid of each other. We're afraid of people who look different than we do, behave differently or have different beliefs.
Television news shows pit us against each other so we can shout at each other and drive up ratings. Websites give us tantalizing click bate to pull us into their site so they can charge more for advertising. All the yelling and headlines drive up stress and it's, frankly, terrifying.
And in the cacophony of frantic voices I hear Jesus say, "Remember your sparrows."
Then I wonder, "Do we really believe?"
Do we believe what Jesus told us in Matthew 10 that God is aware of even those two little birds outside my window?
Do really believe that in the middle of this big city, with it's millions of people he sees those guys? That in the country with over 1600 amazingly beautiful and diverse species he thinks these two are just as beautiful?
Do we believe God is so infinitely aware and so focused on his creation that he knows the kind of night my little friend had? That he knows about all his twisted little feathers? That he cares about each one?
Do we believe he cares more about us?
The passage in Matthew 10 is actually pretty terrifying. It talks about poverty, flogging and getting called before the courts. It talks about threats, brothers turning against brothers and even the possibility of death.
And then... "don't be afraid. God is even aware of the sparrow."
I can't say that I understand all of that. We live in a pretty scary world that seems to becoming only more divisive. Still... I'll try to get up each morning, look at my two little guys and remember God sees us both.
They are ordinary. Not rich, famous or exciting. They're common. Birdwatchers don't begin their year hoping to catch their first sparrow. Microsoft popped up a screensaver of an amazing snowy owl. These two will never be photographed. And certainly would never make the Microsoft screenshot list.
This morning I came downstairs and there one was sitting on the bar. He looked rough, like he'd been out drinking all night or his wife kicked him out of the nest. It's cold and rainy. His feathers were all bushed out and wet and the ones on his head looked like he had slept on them wrong, jutting out in all directions.
I thought, "Yeah Buddy, I've felt that way a few mornings too."
We seem to be afraid in America. Of North Korea, Russia, the economy, crime and violence. And we seem to be afraid of each other. We're afraid of people who look different than we do, behave differently or have different beliefs.
Television news shows pit us against each other so we can shout at each other and drive up ratings. Websites give us tantalizing click bate to pull us into their site so they can charge more for advertising. All the yelling and headlines drive up stress and it's, frankly, terrifying.
And in the cacophony of frantic voices I hear Jesus say, "Remember your sparrows."
Then I wonder, "Do we really believe?"
Do we believe what Jesus told us in Matthew 10 that God is aware of even those two little birds outside my window?
Do really believe that in the middle of this big city, with it's millions of people he sees those guys? That in the country with over 1600 amazingly beautiful and diverse species he thinks these two are just as beautiful?
Do we believe God is so infinitely aware and so focused on his creation that he knows the kind of night my little friend had? That he knows about all his twisted little feathers? That he cares about each one?
Do we believe he cares more about us?
The passage in Matthew 10 is actually pretty terrifying. It talks about poverty, flogging and getting called before the courts. It talks about threats, brothers turning against brothers and even the possibility of death.
And then... "don't be afraid. God is even aware of the sparrow."
I can't say that I understand all of that. We live in a pretty scary world that seems to becoming only more divisive. Still... I'll try to get up each morning, look at my two little guys and remember God sees us both.
I will never look at sparrows again without thinking of them through the lens of God's care and attention! Thank you for sharing Jeff. -J
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. :o)
DeleteCenter of the bull's eye, Jeff! God the Father sent His only son into just such a world (actually far worse than our own, for sure!) and it is this same Jesus who teaches us from in the simplest of ways. Thank you for looking, listening, learning, and writing. I'm watching you. I'm reading you. And I"m learning, too ...
ReplyDeleteThanks heaps! And right back at ya!
DeleteLove the connections! Really enjoy the way you communicate those ideas too. And, if it would make you feel better, I could make you my screensaver??
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHA! That may be the funniest thing I have heard in my whole life. Thank you. And for the nice stuff too. :o)
DeleteThe image of the free sparrows next to the bars on the window (put there for safety and/or out of fear)...great contrast...Jesus wants us to be free like the sparrows!! Thanks for another thought provoking blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. :o)
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