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how it works

TITLE: Bird Faith | Previous Challenge Entry
By c clemons
03/18/10
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I will never forget the day when I was taught a lesson about faith by a bird. What kind of bird? I am not sure, but a bird nonetheless. My life at that time seemed to be full of turmoil. I was experiencing what I would now call a drought in my life. A spiritual drought that is. I was not feeling very connected to God. Yes, I was still doing all the things that are required of a Christian. I was going to church, praying daily, believing (or so I thought) God's word and having an encouraging voice for others. But, I could not seemed to encourage myself.

Financially I was on the verge of bankruptcy and my home was going into foreclosure. My health had took a nose dive and I had several different symptoms that began to plague me. I had headaches, pain in my joints and abdomen. After visiting several doctors, and having a battery of tests done, I had no concrete diagnosis. Meanwhile I was trying to remain positive on the outside to family and friends, but on the inside, I cried daily.

"Lord, I need you now, right now, " I would cry. I secretly thought God was punishing me for not being obedient to Him when I made some bad financial decisions. Yes, I had leaped before I looked (in this case prayed) about a money matter. And now I felt I was reaping what I sowed. I did have the sense to repent but forgiving myself was a different matter.

It seemed like each new day would bring a new set of problems. My job that I had been at for over thirty-four years was closing my department. Given my current financial woes I thought I would have to work another five years to just get out of the fire. I had to make a choice of moving to another location or leaving the company. I thought my head or maybe my heart would burst if I had to make one more decision about my future.

It was then that the bird came into my life. I was leaving the hospital after having a CT Scan, (the latest doctor wanted to see what a particular mass was in my abdomen). I was driving down a busy four lane street albeit a little preoccupied. It was a wintry day in January and the street was tree lined and some of the branches overhung the roadway. My emotions had truly ran the gamut that morning. What if it's cancer? What if I have to have surgery?" The what ifs kept coming, What if I lose my house? My job? I could feel myself getting ready to go "tilt". It was at that moment that I looked overhead at the naked tree branches that I was about to pass under. There in the outermost branches was a bird's nest.

"Oh, Wow!," I thought. I had an epiphany, or maybe it was the Lord speaking to my heart. In the summer with the leaves, no one saw the bird's nest as we zoomed down that busy street, but it was there just the same. That bird built her nest believing that no matter what storms came, wind, or rain she would be safe. Some people ask,"How do you know when God is speaking to you?" My answer to that is, you get a peace. It was as if God spoke to me and said, "See, just like the bird and her nest, I have you in the palm of my hand."

Yes, I know it might sound like a clichè, but God did work it ALL out. I did not have cancer and the mass disappeared. I did not lose my home, and I left my job with a bonus that helped payoff my bills. I will never forget that "WOW" moment. I was reminded of the scripture about having the faith of a grain of mustard seed. But now when I am encouraging others that might be going through a storm, I tell them about having bird like faith.

Scripture References The New Analytical Bible (King James Version)
Matt. 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, ....Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto the mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Luke 12:22, 24 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought [be not anxious] for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 24 Consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them; how much more are ye better than the fowls?

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