ABCs of Spiritual Formation: B is for Birds
BIRDS
Birds and spiritual formation may be a strange coupling but hang with me. I enjoy bird watching. I think I get it from my mom who could sit for much of a day in her backyard and watch the birds. They are fascinating creatures.
Often Jesus points to birds as a reminder of God's providence and care for us. Not much has changed in 2000 years as we still need to hear his exhortation today.
Are you one of the countless multitudes caught in the current pandemic of anxiety?
I confess I have struggled with fears of the future and worry over what will happen to us. I know I'm not alone. We take on a poverty mindset and act like orphans, or more fitting with this bird theme, we pay no mind to the birds all around us.
Look at Jesus' exhortation (I expect this was a common refrain which is probably why Matthew and Luke give similar but not the same quotes)
"Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" - Luke 12:24
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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?" - Matthew 6:25-26
Making space to encounter God may need to include stopping and watching the birds. God takes care of them. He will take care of us.
Is this too simplistic? Is it unrealistic?
Let me give a personal testimony on this... As I get older, I more and more see the wisdom and truth in Jesus' words. The problem is I still doubt their validity. As I said last week this is not about doing more Bible study. I first read the above quoted verses over 40 years ago and have studied them and heard sermons on them many times throughout my life. I've discovered this afresh in the most recent season when we have experienced significant financial strain. I thought this was an area I trusted God in only to find my faith in His provision wavering as bills stacked up.
The way I have found strength is to do what Jesus says, "consider the ravens...". As mentioned above, this is a call to stop and make space. As we observe the birds with a view to encountering God at work, we are changed. This strengthens and secures our attachment to God. In addition, as we do the same with God's people in our lives and strengthen that connection to our forever family, we come to rest in Him.
What has been helpful for you? What would you add?
As I reflect on these things, I recognize, of course, that I fall short. I still wrestle with anxiety. This realization pushes me to look to deeper issues. I have had to ask God what is happening to trigger this worry in me. Here are some helpful questions:
Is repentance needed?
Am I holding onto or hiding something that I can't readily see?
Is there past trauma that is imprisoning me?
Is there something I haven't surrendered?
Is there something in my story that reveals why this current situation has power?
Asking these questions sincerely and waiting on answers takes time and effort. We can be impatient wanting God to act quickly and fix us. He seems to be on His schedule, not ours. Even recognizing that is helpful.
EMBODIMENT EXERCISE
Here's another helpful exercise if you are willing to try something that may feel a little (a lot) weird.
Take some time alone and take a few deep breaths to center yourself and be present to yourself and God.
Allow yourself to feel the anxiety and whatever surrounds it.
Now, embody the anxiety. Allow it to be a person in the room with you. Picture it sitting there with you and God, just the three of you.
Be kind and curious to yourself.
Have a conversation with it. What do you want to ask it? What do you want to tell it? What does God want to say? What do you feel as you have this conversation? Keep breathing and recognize what you are feeling in your body.
Note: Most likely, the anxiety served you at some point before imprisoning you, or at least it seemed like it was serving you. You felt scared and so anxiety came in to help you. Perhaps you invited it in?
Feel free to let Anxiety know that it isn't welcome anymore. If appropriate, thank it for its service. Send it away and allow it to leave the room.
Finish your conversation with God now that just the two of you are in the room. Debrief the time with him. Thank God and ask him for help moving forward.
Share about this time with your spouse and/or a trusted friend.
The next time you experience anxiety check your attachment to God and let him remind you of where the solid ground is.
If that exercise is too weird for you, no worries.
Regardless, let's look to the birds, let them remind us of God's loving care, and let that reality do its work in our souls.
MORE BOOKS
If you haven't read David Benner's trilogy, you may find it helpful. His writing has nothing to do with birds, but his name starts with B, and his books are powerful for stepping into our True Identity found only in Jesus.
The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery (Book 2 of 3: The Spiritual Journey)
Desiring God's Will: Aligning Our Hearts with the Heart of God (Book 3 of 3: The Spiritual Journey)
[Photo credit - Top photo by Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash, Raven Photo by Tyler Quiring on Unsplash]