Tucked Away

Tucked Away
Hidden and shy
A bird to be
One day will fly

And when it does
It worries not
Of what it needs
Or what it's got

One tiny fragile blue egg in a carefully woven nest only a couple feet off the ground.  An amazing display of intricacy and vulnerability.  The egg has no control of its circumstances, and the bird caring for it also faces a harsh reality pertaining to its own survival.  Storms come and go, predators threaten, and food can be scarce.  Yet the bird carries on.  It feeds and cares for the next generation, and does little for itself beyond what is necessary to sustain life.  It does not worry about tomorrow, and it does not seek fortune.

On the contrary, I always found myself worrying about tomorrow, trying to control circumstances, and striving for more.  But for the last couple years I’ve been reading a certain lesson a few times each week that has drastically changed all that.  It’s a lesson taught by Jesus about true treasure, our anxiety, and God’s provision.  Of all things to choose from, He chooses birds (and wildflowers) to give perspective to his anxious and striving generation, us.  For those of us who tend to worry, control, and strive, this lesson is an offer from Jesus to trust, let go, and live.  We must still diligently carry out the work we’re called to, but the striving and anxiety can be thrown out.  They were never needed to begin with.

Matthew 6: 26-27
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

The full lesson discussed above is in Matthew 6: 19-34.