So, a couple days ago I was sitting in my room reading and my dog Charlie jumped down from being nestled beside me and ran up to the attic. I didn’t think much of it because he normally will move if he hears another dog or something that requires his investigation. All of a sudden though I hear a crash up stairs and realize there is more than just a curiosity of whats outside going on. He was trying to get at something.
After I climbed the stairs I see this poor bird had flown into the attic through one of the two small windows up there. It was stuck in one section of the room desperately trying to figure out how to avoid the brute of a dog that had only one thing on his mind…its a toy. Or maybe two things…he was probably thinking it was food as well.
I got charlie out of the room and came back upstairs with a towel and tried to figure out the best way to get this little guy free. I slowly went up to it. Letting the towel hang lose and then gently went around the bird. It tried to get away at first but then resigned itself to what was about to happen. I gently carried it to the window and set on the edge. It sat there for a moment, I assume trying to get it bearings, then flew away.
I got to thinking about that whole situation through the lens of my own life. I like to think that the Lord is an artist and loves to find creative ways to teach us new things or remind us of truth. Using his creation as tools. In this situation I was reminded of how I am so much like that bird.
I am ultimately set free because of what Christ did on the cross, but in the midst of my journey living in this freedom sometimes I put myself in positions to be in bondage yet again. I fly into a place that seems inviting and then find a predator there waiting for me. There are whole chapters of my life where I can look back and see that I was flying around a room desperate for freedom but kept getting distracted by this thing or that thing. Thats when the Father steps in and gently brings me back to truth. Brings me back to freedom. I feel like I am kind of in one of those seasons right now. There is so much uncertainty with so many different aspects of my life that I just want to hide, but I can’t because life keeps moving and decisions have to be made. Just like the Bird trying to make decisions of how to get outta there.
I think there is an automatic fear with uncertainty. The constant what am I going to do if this doesn’t happen? How am I going to pay this? Will I always be alone? What is my future? Will I be on the streets? Being in theater and also an emotional being my "what if" thoughts can take me on quite the roller coaster.
I think if we stop and listen though there is some beauty in the uncertainty. Just like that little bird had to stop in order for me to hold it and carry it to freedom, I too have to be still enough for the Father to take hold of those fears and free me from them. In stead of trying to figure out a way out and constantly try and game plan like the bird was trying to find that window, sometimes we just have to be still and let the Lord show us the path out…even if it means him carrying us. I find myself leaning more and more on the Lord carrying me. There is so much noise in the world. So much distraction. I find myself craving the quiet and stillness.
I don’t know where that Bird went after I set it free. What new adventures it went on or how it provided for itself. God knows our path though. He has provision waiting for us. He has a purpose and plan. The cliches are rolling here but I know that he is in the details of it all because I have experienced it in my own life time and time again. God is good. So be still. Let him carry you if you need to be carried. Let him sit with you if you need to be comforted. He is Good. He is peace that passes all understanding and he just wants to share that with us.
