Birds of the Air

I had just taken a walk out to the neighbor's pasture to check on how the freshly seeded winter rye grass was growing. It looked good and had sprouted well. We have been treated to some welcome gentle showers of late. It looks like we will get some pasture for the horses for the winter and what with the price of hay in this, the year of the drought, it feels good. Those of you that are connected to the earth and the cycle of the seasons and feel in your gut, an association with plants and animals and all things Eden related, can appreciate how good it feels when things go well. It is in stark contrast to the tree killing drought we have been through. So as I'm going back to the house I'm enjoying the verdant vision. As I'm climbing over the fence I hear the chirping of a House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) in the shrubs. He's finding something to eat in there in the bushes and is joined by another wren. One of the remarkable things about the House Wren is they have a "big song" for such a tiny bird and they gave a great outdoor concert. They seemed so carefree and without a worry. They had shrubs, they had grubs, and they had a song. And I thought about what Jesus said that food and clothing should not unduly concern us. All we need to do is look to the birds of the air and the flowers of the field and there we should find  solace for our uneasiness and anxiety. The birds looked happy enough and well fed. The pasture could cause  Eeyore's mouth to water. That should lead us to believe we too are cared for as well. What I must include in this story is the fact that within a radius of 50 feet of where I sit are 4 dead pine trees. There was,  just not enough water, and they died in the last few months. Not a reassuring image about God's care taking of the trees of the field. You see, our son, Josh, died this year - 6 months ago. Lynne and I, have, and still do wrestle with that one. Not enough proverbial rain there to keep him alive. Not a reassuring image of God's care taking of his children. I know there is an answer there some where but we have yet to hear God's answer to this one. The wrens are happy. Eeyore's mouth is watering. Lynne and I, however, still carry a great deal of sadness.