The Peace of God and Birds

The peace of God is something that almost transcends our ability to reason. In our clearest moments, we understand the peace of God as the absence of confusion / chaos. God's peace is more than that, though. God's peace is an abiding reality of living in His presence and expressing that reality by faith. The peace of God, then, is the absence of confusion and in the positive is the abiding reality of his presence with us.

Recently I acquired a pair of keets or two parakeets (whichever you prefer....) and I've learned a great deal about the peace of God from them. The previous owners doubtless cared for them because them seem healthy and vibrant. I already had in my possession a larger cage and this past weekend I transferred them from the smaller cage to the larger cage. They seem to enjoy it. I initially named them Pete and Re-Pete, but I found out that one is a girl. Now I call them Green Pete and Girl Pete. They like their names.

I really enjoy sitting on the porch where I keep the birds and I gain great joy by watching them. It is surprising, really. I never expected two birds to bring anything of substance into my life, but they have. By watching them, I've been reminded of Jesus' teaching that he cares for the sparrows so that not one falls to the ground without his knowledge. I think of his discourse on discipleship when I look at those birds and I hear Jesus saying, "The foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay his head..." There is something about those birds that points me to the Creator. Exactly what it is, I do not know. That it is, I'm certain.

It could be simply that I take time to sit with my new bird family each day and in that time with the birds I still myself and experience peace - both the absence of chaos and the abiding reality of His presence. I do feel a bit guilty, though, because it took me getting two birds before I would sit down long enough to meditate upon the loftier things of life rather than just allow my mind to atrophy in front of the silver screen. Could it be that we might all learn a lesson from Green and Girl? Be still and know that He is God...