As every faithful reader of this column knows, I enjoy taking my gun for woodland walks this time of year. If a nice buck should happen to appear, so much the better! But even when it doesn’t happen, which is most of the time, it’s always good to be outdoors. You never know what you will see, hear, or experience.
Two years ago, I was perched in one of my favorite treestands chewing on beef jerky and composing a poem. It was a blustery morning and some last leaf holdouts made their way to the ground whenever the wind tugged hard enough to yank them loose.
Suddenly and without warning, a tufted titmouse landed on my right shoulder. I think his mistake shocked him as much as it did me, for he exited the premises almost quicker than I knew what had happened. My camouflage was apparently doing its job. Unfortunately, I was not able to take a selfie with the critter although he did leave me a small remembrance in my open fanny pack.
During my years in the woods, I’ve had squirrels on my boots and whitetails right under my stand. I’ve even had a wren land on my gun barrel oblivious of what it could do to her. But this was the first time a bird ever actually landed on me, if even very briefly. What a special treat to add to my collection of hunting memories!
Its rapid departure, however, reminded me of Solomon’s observation in Proverbs 23:5 where he said, “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” Substitute the word titmouse for eagle and I had the perfect object lesson! In fact, I didn’t even get to glance at him before he left.
Indeed, riches are very fleeting. While gold is currently at an all-time, it may be at a new low next week. Although the stock market is soaring today, there’s no clue how far it might drop tomorrow. Even the value of cash can vanish rapidly if aggressive inflation steals its worth. Add to these ever-present truths the fact that sudden unexpected expenses arise from time to time to gobble up nest eggs quicker than a black snake, and we can certainly comprehend the truth of this proverb, even if it does make us uncomfortable.
Notice Solomon didn’t say riches were evil and Jesus never did either. It’s the love of money that is the root of evil, not the money itself. It’s when we set our hearts and minds on these things that we give them power they should never have and we’re in for heartache when they take unexpected flight. Perhaps it’s the lingering glances that plant the seeds of idolatry as we begin to expect more from riches than they can deliver.
Do you think maybe God made birds to help us understand spiritual truths? He made them for many other reasons as well, such as seed dispersal, pest control, food source, insulating down, and striking beauty, but I would suggest that God created the physical world in such a way as to also reveal Himself and spiritual truths He wants us to appreciate. In His teachings, Jesus reminded us that He cares for sparrows and will care for us too and that not a single one falls to the earth without His knowledge. We can learn a lot from these winged wonders.
Thankfully, God never takes flight. He is ever present with those who have accepted His Son as their Savior and we are comforted and calmed as we not only glance at Him but look full in His wonderful face. He can and does deliver all He has promised and often much more besides. As we watch the birds in our yards and at our feeders, let’s discover the spiritual lessons God is teaching us through them. Blessings, George