When I got home from work the other day, my son told me there were two crows dead in the backyard. I said, “That’s not good. That’s a bad omen.” I really didn’t know if it was or wasn’t, but I knew sometimes people associated crows with bad things. I am not very superstitious myself, but I watched enough horror movies in my youth that the omen comment seemed like something a teenager, who enjoys horror movies himself, would appreciate, so I said it.
When I went out back to see what had happened, I found two blackbirds dead by our large picture windows. They were laying next to each other just beyond the bird feeders my mom had set up in the yard. My mother lives with me, and she loves the birds. I knew instantly what had probably happened. The two were probably fighting with each other over the seed. They were so busy fighting that they flew straight into the windows.
As I picked up the two birds, their black feathers glistening, still looking beautiful, I hoped they were just unconscious, that there was still life in them. But alas, as I held their soft, still slightly warm bodies, I saw the tightly clutched feet and limp necks. I felt instant sadness, and my mind immediately thought about all that is going on in the world right now. It hit me like those birds hit the window. Hard.
Those two birds died because they lost sight of what was in front of them. They fixated on each other, each trying to keep the other from taking what they felt was rightfully theirs. As they screeched and clawed and bit at each other, they headed straight for their demise, together, fighting all the way.
Had those two beautiful birds just taken a moment to realize there was plenty of seed for both of them. Had they said to themselves, “We’re all birds here. We need to share.” Had they just understood there was plenty for all of them, they would still be alive today. OK. You’re right. Birds probably don’t think like that, but… We can. We do. And we should.
We have taken our eyes off the problems at hand and started pecking and clawing and screeching at each other, all the while flying straight into what could very well be our demise. God did not intend it to be that way. We are meant to work together and be there for each other in this life. The bible says in Mark 12:31, “Love your neighbor has yourself.” Christian or not, that is good advice. Imagine if we all did that. What a wonderful world it would be.
Finding Joy: By focusing on the fact that we are all human and going through this life together, you will have much more joy and peace. You can spend your time and energy helping your fellow man. Have you thought about ways you can do that? If you do that, you can better navigate your journey in this life and avoid the proverbial window. You’ll find your joy.
Listen to This: If this topic touched your heart, try listening to this. I am a lyrics person, and this song speaks volumes. We All Bleed the Same by Mandisa, featuring TobyMac, and Kirk Franklin https://youtu.be/HVKuA1s5I3o
Related Scripture:
Mark 12:31 – Love your neighbor as yourself.
Romans 12:10 – Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Philippians 2:4 – Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
1 John 3:17 – 18 – But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
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