Lessons We Can Learn from Birds

Message by Rev. Frank Schaefer
Mat 6:26-27, Isaiah 40:31  

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But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:26-27

Lessons from Geese

We have all seen geese fly in a V formation. Scientists discovered some time ago that as each goose flaps its wings it creates “uplift”, an aerodynamic orientation that reduces air friction for the birds that follow. By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock achieves a 70% greater flying range than if each bird can fly alone. A couple of weeks ago we learned that a group of trees together are stronger and more likely to survive storms, today we learn that working together like geese will help us make our journey easier—in the case of geese up to 70 percent. We can achieve so much more if we stand together and walk alongside our brothers and sisters, helping and supporting each other

Now, when a goose gets sick or wounded, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock. The lesson here is to stand by each other in difficult times, we pray for each other, we care for each other. No one gets left behind. When one of us suffers we suffer all.

Lessons from Eagles:

Perhaps Isaiah climbed up a tall mountain to pray and meditate and as he looked around he saw some eagles soar high above. Perhaps he even observed them feeding their eagle babies in the nest. Bald eagles are amazing animals, they mate for life and they care for their young together.

There comes a time when mom and dad eagle knows that it's time for junior to fly. They know that junior can fly. However, junior has never flown before, so he doesn't know whether he can or cannot fly. Do you know how baby eagles learn to fly? Mr. and Mrs. Eagle will try to lure junior out of the nest by flying overhead with food. But it’s been observed that young eagles were pushed out of the nest. Perhaps this is something the prophet Isaiah observed as he meditated on the mountain side. And while junior is falling, panicking and afraid, he will eventually start to flap his wings and before he hits the ground he will suddenly catch a ride on the warm rising air and start to soar.

Does that sound familiar? That's what it feels like when God allows us to go through crises, isn't it? That's what it often feels like, metaphorically speaking, we feel like the bottom of our world has dropped out and we are in a free-fall waiting to shatter and splash on the ground below us.

By the way, the Bald Eagle Stalmaster estimates that perhaps half of all fledglings fall to the ground after their first flight. Whether they fall or successfully land in trees near the nest, the parents will typically bring them food to where they are.

Lessons

1. Trusting God means that we realize that before you can rise, you have to fall! You can't experience the miracle of the rise unless you fall. There could not have been a resurrection without Jesus' death!

2. Trusting God means that we will be able go through a crisis with confidence because we have God's promise that, in the end, we shall overcome!

3. Trusting God means that we believe, without knowing why or how, that God has already given us wings, we just need to discover them!

These beautiful words by Jesus don’t need interpretation. They speak for themselves. I had an interesting conversation once with a gentleman who insisted that Jesus was saying in this discourse that birds are not that important to God. In fact, he insisted that God’s creation was solely made for us to use, enjoy and manage. I had a feeling where he was going with this argument, namely that environmental concerns are ridiculous. Of course, I do not share this opinion. On the contrary, by affirming that God does care for God’s creation, including birds and all other animals and plants, it makes the statement, “and are you not much more valuable in God’s eyes” even more significant. What it says is that God loves us and cares for us in a special way. We are God’s favorites, we are God’s beloved. Let’s take this in for a moment as we close with a prayer:

Prayer
Dear God, you made the earth and every living creature;
Help us to treat with compassion
The animals entrusted to our care,
That they may not suffer from neglect
Nor become victims of any cruelty.

And grant that in caring for them
We may find a deeper understanding of Your love
for creation, as they teach us valuable lessons of trust, care, and unity. We pray this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.