Yesterday, flying alongside our boat (an extremely powerful ferry designed for the rough interisland seas in this part of the world) was a most captivating animal. In the past, I’ve referred generally to these creatures as seagulls, but that generalization was born out of sheer ignorance. (What else do you call birds at the sea?)
Well, I finally decided to do my homework. This beautiful bird was a white tern. Seemingly effortlessly, the bird entered into a race with our vessel, but it was clearly obvious that he could win the race any time he chose to do so. Sometimes he flew slower than our boat, and sometimes he raced right past us, as if to say, “I’m just toying with you naive tourists.”
We were together for miles. Very close to us for the most part, and level with my line of vision, the bird would on occasion dive to just inches above the water … and then soar much higher in the blink of an eye … casually displaying the quick aeronautical skills of a seasoned fighter pilot.
Quite ironically, on the exact same day, some of the commercial flights into Saint Barts (here in the French West Indies, where this particular bird was showing off) were canceled. The reason for the cancellations: high winds! Even with the best crews and equipment in the world of aviation, it was simply too dangerous to land on that short airstrip.
I have to chuckle. (Does that make me a laughing gull?) As the human race, despite all of our massive achievements in the friendly skies, we still can’t keep up with the birds! They were born to fly, in any kind of weather. When it comes to flying, birds accomplish by instinct what we can only dream of achieving.
For us, the lesson is in the looking. But will we take the time to notice? Will we take the time to let reality sink in? Will we humble ourselves, and learn from creation and its Creator?
For each one of us, Jesus issues a remarkable challenge (Matthew 6:26): “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
When you and I consider, and I mean really consider, the wonders of “nature,” it’s life-changing. That white tern had everything it needed, just like Jesus said. The winds and weather were no concern, nor was a suitable runway for landing. Neither was the next meal a worrisome thought. Were the Internet to be shut down by a foreign enemy or a domestic terrorist, that bird could not care less about the diminished availability of GPS. That creature’s “global positioning” is determined by One who never fails.
And yet, says our Sovereign Lord, you and I are more precious to God than that gorgeous and gifted bird. Herein is an unbreakable promise, as well as an implied course correction, for us. We can trust our heavenly Father! He is worthy of our complete confidence. He is good, always good, and never less than good. He loves us. And the next meal is on Him. Always.
By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have peace with this great God. Peace. We’re aren’t just His creatures anymore. We are His children. We are sons and daughters of the living God! That is peace.
I ain’t goin’ to study war no more.
Pastor Charles
Leave a Reply