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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Fearful (08/23/07)
We raised three baby birds last week. They were “planted” in one of the hanging plants outside of our office. The ladies I work with showed them to me on Monday. We hadn’t seen a sign of the mother in a little while. By Tuesday, one of them had flown away. I tried to make it stay. It would try so hard to fly, but only get a few feet from the hanging plant. Then, I would pick it up and put it back in the pot. No sooner had I done that, than it would fly out again. By Tuesday it was gone. We hoped that it had just found its wings.

On Tuesday, the other two started flying out of the pot. One was definitely better at it than the other. By the time we left work Tuesday, they were both huddled around each other, in a corner just outside of one of the offices on our block. I took my three kids by to see them. My girls love animals and Brandon loves being outside, so it seemed like a good idea for a field trip. We went to the corner and they were still there. So, we very carefully placed both of them back in the hanging potted plant. Ok, I very carefully placed them back into the pot. The girls stood by and gave me very specific instructions on how to be careful while Brandon stood; bent at the hip and stared at ants with his face two inches from the sidewalk (he was very concerned about the baby birds).

One of the baby birds did the same thing that the first one did. He just flew out of the plant and landed a few feet from it. Then, he would take off again, for a few more feet. When we left, they were both back in the pot. On Wednesday morning, the second escapee made it all the way to the trees across the street, in front of City Hall. One bird was left. As you might expect he was the smallest of the three. When I left work on Thursday, his little head was poking out from that plant and he was chirping. The scene just made me sad. I took the girls back up there, later, with some sunflower seeds try and feed the bird. We were shocked to find the plant was empty. He had flown the coup (I hope).

In a matter of a few days; three helpless baby birds flew. Something inside them told them that it was time. I didn’t think that they could do it, but then I’m not a bird. Though they had only been birds for a short while, they still had been birds longer than me. They have an instinct about bird things. Something in them said they should fly, so they did. They didn’t soar into the clouds right away and they didn’t all leap at the same time. Each baby bird had to leap when its instinct said to leap. Were they afraid? I don’t know. I know that I was afraid for them, but I don’t have their instinct.

I admire animal instincts. To me their instincts are an illustration of absolute blind trust. Instinct is that thing that causes animals not to be fearful of the unknown. I think of being fearful as the opposite of trust. That’s why I think that instinct is such a great example for trust. Something inside young animals tells them that it’s OK to go into the great unknown and do things they have never done before. And, instinct is what causes a mother to stop wondering and let go of her babies.

I think about Proverbs 3:5, when I think about those baby birds. It’s a fairly well quoted scripture reference. It says:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;”

I’ve heard quite a few people talk about the “Trust in the Lord” part of that verse, but I like to focus on the “and lean not on your own understanding” part. The biggest fear we have is fear of the unknown. To trust in the Lord means that we set aside what we know and accept that He knows it all. How I wish that my instincts told me to trust in the Lord and stop relying on myself. Maybe then I could fly.
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This article has been read 779 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Rhonda Clark
08/31/07
This is a very nice lesson. You made me care about the birds.

I got lost in your day progression. Didn't quite seem to add up. Also, don't forget to add the Scripture reference and Bible version.

Good work.
Ginny Winters
08/31/07
You kept putting the baby birds back in the planter when you found they had been wandering. I think that God does that with us as well. I like how you were so concerned to keep coming back to check on them, and our Lord does the same with us. He lets us fly a ways and then helps us back where we can rest. The next time we fly a little further, and so on. It's a great article that causes us to think.
Brenda Buikema
09/03/07
I agree with the above comments, how tired God must get sometimes! This was good but a little less deatails and more summarization would be good. Very good story though, I liked the part about watching the ant!