Is it only “for the birds”?

The other day while at Rotary Park, my attention was drawn to a flock of birds. What must have been a hundred pair of beating wings flew toward me, then in a flick of a moment swept upward, did a switchback after a mid-air loop, dropping in for a gentle landing about 50 yards from my feet. As I watched this superb movement of the birds, it was a song of unity heard by my soul.

How did the birds know the “when” and the “where” of their unison flight? Not one missed a beat as they displayed total oneness. It was as if each followed the dictates of an omniscient, omnipresent mind. Harmony at its glorious best.

Moments before I had prayed, “Father, teach me your ways,” and upon pondering the birds as they sat softly in the grass I thought of Jesus’ prayer to the Father for His followers, “that they might be one, even as we are one . . . that they may share my joy completely.”

Until one reads John, Chapter 17, there is no way to understand the intentions of Jesus Christ . . . or, to comprehend the Kingdom of God He was extending.

The Lord has a vision of unity for all who love Him— multitudes acting as one in perpetuating the Kingdom of God on earth. Imagine for a moment, a people so tuned-in to the needs of one another that a constant rushing in, pulling back, and flowing together would be seen, filling each and every gap as it appeared. A people able to lay aside the “whims” of personal wills. A people ever seeking the mind of Christ, preferring His will over their own. A global orchestra performing a masterpiece symphony, instilling peace, love and joy right here on Planet Earth.

What gets in our way of participating? Self-will? Ambition for making a name for one’s self? Storing wealth beyond what can be used well? Or, stubbornness, thinking, “It’s all about me.” These can create jealousy, competition and lack of care for what is best for all.

We all have attributes and ambitions. Yet, prideful behavior is a ubiquitous human tendency, arising out of wanting to control, or to be the one with the best plan, the one to do the directing, the giving of orders. Power-plays begin with elevating self and often result in back-biting. These create the opposite of unity: division, confusion, anger, even bitterness—anything but selfless love. This is a far cry from God’s call for us to shine forth, being the “light the world.”

For sure, we are going to have difficult human behaviors to deal with until the day we die, as none of us can get “all the dents out” before that moment of “departure” which we call “death.” So, working on ourselves for the betterment is a lifetime project. The human conscience is a wonderful thing when we are humble enough to be tuned into it. Hence there are opportunities to frequently correct ourselves.

The call of Christ to His people has always been to grow in our sensitivity for the needs of others, not just among those who are our friends and family, but reaching out to touch the marginal people, or those in the tightest of life’s places. For instance our nursing homes where there is little to do and people are lonely. A lot of contacts can be made by phone or email, in such a time as we are in.

Today, I wasn’t “in the flow.” I occasionally play policeman of the world, if only in my thoughts. While in the park I had great and wondrous thoughts—even said some prayers. Then, along came a woman with a dog having no leash on her pet. I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. Then, not long after that, I was standing ready to pay for a purchase when a woman with a child moved right up beside me. I was irked because we have a 6’ rule during this global crises. Well, guess what. I wasn’t patient about it. Back at the car, I regretted my stance in the situation and prayed, “Lord, I’ll bet there is something you would like to say to me, right now.”

Some days I do better at “picking up the cross” and carrying it, again and again. Our asking forgiveness and granting forgiveness will bring us closer to laying down our judgements and mistrusts—of God, self and others.

For sure, following Christ does call for a certain “death to self” in order for God’s people to form a safe and joyous flight creating a universal oneness that sees each as being instrumental in life’s symphonic concert. Perhaps, adding, on occasion, a good ol’ hootenanny.

Signs of this are even now “in the air.” There is a lot of good care going on for one another, bringing hope for a future of living together with a new kind of closeness—perhaps a felt unity through experiencing our current, shared suffering.