Outside the window of my home office, the bluebird keeps returning to her nest. I wonder why. She built the nest, entertained suitors, chose one to share in the feeding of her nestlings, and then sat on the fence and watched her babies fly away.
Maybe she returns to the comfort of the familiar. Maybe it’s her forever spot. I could watch all day, thinking of the line, “Nothing but bluebirds all day long,” in the song, “Blue Skies,” by Irving Berlin.
Perhaps like my bluebird, I tend to return to familiar places, people, and experiences. There is such a powerful comfort when I align myself more closely with what I already know, especially when I’m tired. My bluebird was very busy; is she tired and feeling vulnerable? Tuck in and rest your weary head, my bluebird. It is okay to rest.
Soon, with wings fluttering, she is off. Under a bird’s wings are fragile skin and bones easily able to be damaged, but with the wings down, the bird is protected and guarded. So why would she lift her wings, and why be so vulnerable? What is so important that she takes the risk?
I watch from behind my window, safe and guarded. During life, it is easy to watch in my comfortable spot and explore less of the unknown. I have had experience of the good and bad times and have less time left to make use of new possibilities. Why take the risk?
I can either spend time in safety behind my windows, or I can open the door. How do I balance bold risk with wise safety? When self is yelling, “No, no, too risky!”, the Spirit may be whispering, “There is great Christ-exalting joy in this to be had.” Open the door, and don’t miss the joy.
I look again. Is that my bird at the feeder? The flock of birds noisily thrashes around on the feeder, and then the next group heads in for its share. Then it’s the ground feeders’ turn.
Who hangs out with whom? Where and what do they like for lunch? I don’t know, but an Oxford team that studied bird behavior noticed that birds rarely arrive alone. Birds come in groups–for birds, social connection, or community, is a matter of survival.
Why should I take the risk and join the people groups and the noisy discussion around what is important for survival? Why should I risk moving beyond the doors, the locks, and my alarm systems?
“Be friends with one another, kind, compassionate and generous. Serve one another and submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (a paraphrase of Ephesians 4:32 and 5:21). That’s the community of faith: individually and together, we become mature and grow in Christ. To my bird feeder friends, seed, friends, and nourishing social connections are God’s natural gifts for growth and security. Maybe we humans can risk the call to community.
What is the price of a bluebird? Some loose change, right? God cares what happens to them even more than we do. God pays greater attention to us, down to the last detail – even numbering the hairs on our aging heads! So don’t be intimidated. Go on, rest, risk being vulnerable, and then join the noisy community. You all are worth more than a million bluebirds (something like Matt. 10:29-31).
To read more: “Community: God’s design For Growth,” by Howard Macy from NavPress.
The opinions expressed in this content are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.