I will state it right up front: I am not a bird-lover. A bird-watcher. A bird-feeder. A bird-preserver. Or anything else you may want to add. My favorite bird is a chicken- fried, baked, broasted, shredded, grilled- you get the idea. 🙂 What I just wrote is not meant to offend anyone who loves birds, but I just wanted to get that out. Aaaahh now I feel better.
I say all that because of an incident that happened. Many of you, if you are regular readers, know the church I pastor has been in the process of renovating space. Monday morning I went through the gutted area to the kitchen and about got dive-bombed by a bird. I think he got in from the attic of the other area after the heat duct was removed. Anyway, he flew back and forth in a frenzy. One time he hit the window so hard it stunned him and he ended up on the floor. However, it wasn’t a hard enough knock to put him down long enough for me to get him outside. He recovered enough to begin his mad frenzied flying at the windows. So I opened a door. Then I opened several windows. ALL TO NO AVAIL. Monday night a father and his two sons came in to remove drywall screws from the ceiling joists and the bird flew around a bit and then burrowed itself into a corner. Tuesday morning I walked through to the kitchen and there he was again-frantically flying from window to window. So, I did what I had done the day before- opened a window and a door- then I stood and watched him do everything but fly to freedom. Rafter to rafter. Rafter to window. (Beat against the wrong window several times). Window to rafter. Repeat. I finally left while shaking my head.
I stood thinking, “Dumb bird. I give you a way out and you don’t take it.”
TIME. OUT.
POINT. HITS. HOME!!
It dawned on me how many times I have done exactly that. I get trapped into a way of doing something that has me confined, even confused. God comes along and sees me vainly flying from one “escape hatch to another.” Effort in futility. He opens a window for me to find freedom, but I am too busy flying from rafter to closed window, or rafter to rafter to see His way of escape. What I think is an escape is only a dead end. He offers me a way out but I choose to fly “by the seat of my pants.” If only I would fly to His open window.
Have you found yourself flying blind at any time? How about lately? Have you found yourself set free? And finally, he found his way out sometime Tuesday afternoon. So our Building Team meeting was safe from the dive-bomber. However, we had another visitor-a snake. Gives new meaning to me working in a zoo. 😛
I felt that way for an entire year from June 2001 to 2002. Hardest year of my life.
Glad you found His freedom Larry.
If you could see me now, I would be nodding my head up and down in full agreement with your point. Two thumbs up for this post.
Thanks Daniel. Must be the bird comments at the beginning. 🙂
I like the story but would like to offer a slight twist to the lesson to be learned. It seems to me that you opened the window and not God. How often does God want us to assist others in helping them escape from a life situation that they can not escape without the help and concern of others. How much are we to lend our support, no matter how uncomfortable, to help open the window for others.
Our fellow primates often find themselves trapped, confused, and in need of help.
You didn’t wait on God to open the window. You did it yourself. I am sure the bird is very grateful for all you did for it.
Should we be any less helpful to our fellow primates. Your unselfish love of birds is an example for us all.
That is a great twist Jeff. We can open doors and windows for others. My twist is that since I am His feet and hands then I need to be available and willing to do that. We will make it a whole lot longer in this world if we do open doors and windows for others. Thanks for the twist.
what a great analogy! I for certain have flown into my share of windows and felt trapped and kept missing the way out – this has not been in recent days but for certain times past.
Thanks Jim. I have flown into so many windows I gotta wonder why my nose is not flat. 🙂
God uses the simple things to make a point. I’m reading “the circle maker” and the author talks about how important it is to seek after God instead of chasing after answers. We can’t manufacture miracles on our own – the miracles can only come from one place. That dumb bird was trying to make his own way out when an open door was literally right in front of him. thanks Bill!
Great point Craig. I have seen a lot about that book. Maybe I ought to invest in it.
I’ve been just like that bird many times throughout my life. It’s so much easier to find that place to flee when we stop flipping out and simply trust.
I loved this post. I could visualize it all … In reality and application to the human life and walk with God.
Have a great day!
Lynnette
Thanks for coming by Lynnette. Been keeping up with your move. You have been living in a zoo haven’t you? 🙂 Like you, I have been in that place too often.
I feel silly looking back on some of the times I’ve tried to make my own exit instead of just obeying God and taking His provision.
Good luck in your current zoo-like conditions, Bill! 🙂
Hindsight is always 20/20 they say. I know I look silly. Thanks for the well-wishes Stephen.
Just like the bird who gets caught in a bind, we find people who are lost and blinded. It is our commission to open the doors and windows to lead them to Jesus. So often we overlook the forest for the trees!
Walk daily with God at your side!
Ed
You have stated what I have tried to restate with Jeff’s idea. We have the ability to open doors and windows for others. May the Father help us keep our eyes open. Thanks Ed.
I had a canary when I was a teen. I mistakenly hit the cage with a baseball and the cage fell decapitating the left leg of the bird. I put a cotton swab and duct tape. He lived 2 years after that and I called him captain hook. SO yeah, I like birds. 🙂
Like you, I often marinate myself in butter before going into the oven, not realizing that I have an open door out of the kitchen. I must make run for it! Quickly!!
An orthopedic doctor in your former life. How cool is that? You crack me up Moe. 😛 Thanks.
The worst part of the bird being “trapped” is the word that rhymes with it. I like hummingbirds, I had to set traps for the pigeons around my house.
That is a great analogy of the bird. How often I’ve tried everything on my own trying to escape my world through my own means… we definitely end up smashing against the obstacles we think will save us.
Only He can save us…
Good one.
Trap pigeons in order to save the hummingbirds? never would have known. I too have tried to escape on my own. Thanks.
HiBill,
My thought is put a little bird seed on the windowsill of the open window. Maybe a little dish of water too.
I think sometimes we have to relax a little, get calmed down a bit.
I think of Daniel working and living in a culture of Babylon that opposed his beliefs and religion. How did he cope? He prayed 3 times a day toward Jerusalem and he read scripture.
He didn’t compromise on his faith. Even when his life was threatened.
And he went through some deep waters. Like the lion’s pit.
Actually I was going to put some Goldfish crackers on the sill or the secretary was going to bring some bird seed in. 🙂 Relaxing is important. Don’t get so frazzled. Thanks.
We had a similar incident not too long ago…had a hummingbird come charging into our home and he took up residence on the highest corner (vaulted ceiling) of our house.
it took a little bit of time, but I finally trapped it and taking it carefully by it’s wing, set it free outside.
It reminds me now of how God views the Christian in the church. Some of us tend to go in and bounce around from ministry to ministry, never really digging in and doing the work, but only having a “taste” of something when God actually wants us to be free enough to spread our wings and fly.
My secretary was telling me they had hummingbirds that would get into their garage. She set out some red sugar water and they “followed the color.” Good analogy Ed. Thanks.
Dude, I’ve flown into so many windows my nose is flat. 😉
My nose is flatter than your nose. Nanananana. 🙂
Ok, I know I’m supposed to be serious, but I have been laughing so much at these bird comments, I, too dislike birds very much & have just won a battle of one making a nest right on the eve over our front door, my brilliant husband put some lattice up & voila, no more bird!
Seriously, I think I am still flying blind most days….I”m a work in progress. This was a very good post, after I finished laughing, I definitely got the point. 🙂
I can call you the bird-beater. 🙂 We are all a work in progress Jan.
I believe this is why we have to rely on and develop our relationship and ability to discern His voice. Sometimes He tells us to press through what’s in the way. Sometimes He gives another window to fly out of. Without the wisdom of the Holy Spirit guiding, we can seriously damage ourselves and others (especially as leaders). Great reminder, Bill. Thank you.
You can make a good case Jason for what is an essential for Christ-followers: learning to hear the voice of the Spirit. Discernment is so important. Thanks for taking time to come by.
Ha, working in a zoo! Good one…definitely can relate to the bird…straining and flitting around on my own understanding has trapped me many times. Pausing to look for God’s opening is a great plan! Thanks Bill!
It is so nice when someone else recognizes my humor. 😀 You got the idea of the post Tom. Thanks.
This post reminded me of Evan Almighty episode:
“THESE… are BIRDS.” 😀 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8aozWddbPA
Oh gosh, I love that movie.
Back to the question – yeah, often I think that the way out the “window / door” is too easy, so I am trying to invent some challenges on my way… Because easy way out is bad, right? *Sigh* Yeah.
We sometimes make things too hard Zee. I think we often expect God to make the way harder because we have become conditioned to tough discipleship. We miss out on His open door/window because of it. Will check out the clip.
I found myself many times in the situation you described in the best. Using your analogy, I would often fly around and bang my head on windows until I would give up, and ask God for help. Then, I was able to see the open window.
I believed I learned a little bit, but still sometimes I catch myself “flying around”. But not nearly as often as before.
God is so patient with us, isn’t He?
I have been in the situation you describe Cris. Way too often. And yes, I am glad He is patient. Thanks for coming back.