For the Birds

I love word play, and my reflections on prayer recently led me to find an earthy metaphor for prayer. God gave me a vision of a bird, and then that vision turned into many different visions of birds. And this is what God showed me.

I sometimes wonder if I have lost a piece of my faith. I have seen enough pain and suffering to know that God's will does not always happen on earth- if it were God's will be would not be in a fallen world but all Christians would be taking part in its redemption. In my anger and weariness I often wonder what is the use in praying for certain things, and then he reminds me that I am an instrument of his peace. I am called, like every Christian, to work alongside of the Lord to usher in the Kingdom. I wait with God as I watch for this to happen, and sometimes I see glimmers of justice and righteousness falling on the earth just like that first red-breasted robin that comes into my yard to start picking at the worms when spring hasn't yet arrived. "It's just around the corner" God says. "Watch with me; work with me". And so my prayers arrive answered like that first bird of spring.

Some of my prayers- the prayers that resonate with the poor and the marginalized and the suffering- sit like birds in a tree. I can see them fluttering over my head in this grand old tree somewhere between me and God. I am watching them, and I know God is watching them too, but they're not ready to fly yet. Tears still fall; hearts still break. But the reminder is there so that I continue to pray and continue to show mercy and compassion. The prayers that seem to linger above my head are the ones that God holds there so that that I don't forget my call. And then I look up and I see that my prayers are the birds, singing in the tree and enjoying each other- they are working together. They are not alone.

My prayers are also small, but so is the sparrow. If the sparrow lives within the care and the will of the Father, then I too shall live.

Matthew 10:29-31