THE BIRDS, THE BEAUTY, THE RESILIENCE OF BELIEVERS

 

THE BIRDS, THE BEAUTY, THE RESILIENCE OF BELIEVERS

 

Be as a bird perched on a frail branch

that she feels bending beneath her.

still she sings away

all the same,

knowing that she has wings.

--Victor Hugo

 

Two birds were singing the most beautiful duet; I was about to record it, and the world went quiet. I looked up, and floating overhead was a predator—some kind of raptor. All movement and sound stopped while the raptor circled, at first not that far away, but soon after, the circle expanded, and the bird floated higher into the sky until I couldn’t see it anymore. About twenty minutes went by, and the sparrows began a new song, a hummingbird reappeared, and a tiny silent vireo landed on an aloe flower for a sip. Not the same as before the predator, but beautiful none the less. The early Spring sun is starting its descent, and the mulberry tree is smoking, a bit late this year.

 

Some of us don’t exist well for long periods without some beauty to intrude and interlace with the sorrow we experience in everyday life. Our God, our creator, know this and continues to provide what we need most.

 

Today I looked at and read about Raphael’s preparatory paintings for ten larger paintings called “The Acts of the Apostles.” It was beauty and wonder for my soul. Tomorrow I go for a two-hour trail ride, my own private heaven on earth.

 

Today I changed where my table is on my patio. It changed my viewpoint so that I could see all the amazing flowers, plants, birds, and natural wonders God’s given me.

 

We are never defeated! The resilience of God’s people is a response to His love and concern. I spent time today reading the story in Acts 13, one of Rafael’s paintings for his Acts of the Apostles series. In this Biblical record, a few of the Lord’s Apostles went to the island of Cyprus. The ruler of Cyprus wanted to know more about Jesus Christ, but there was a false prophet there who wanted to turn the leader away from the real truth, but it didn’t work.

 

“And when they [the Apostles] had gone through the isle [Cyprus] unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: which was with the deputy [ruler] of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.”

 

“Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, ‘O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.’ And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

 

“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. (Acts 13:6-12).

 

So, everything went well, and off the Apostles went and stopped in Antioch, which is in present-day Turkey. They taught the Jews first about the true God of the Bible and about Jesus Christ, and many Jews believed and:

 

“The next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 13:44-46).

 

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region” (vv. 47-49).

 

So, Paul and Barnabas blasted the Jews and spoke to the Gentiles, who responded to the truth. But then the Jews got so angry, they stirred up the celebrity women and the well-known leaders of the city and ran Paul and Barnabas out!

 

What was their reaction—not disappointment, anger, or revenge—but joy?

 

“They shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost” (vv. 51-52).

 

That’s what it means to be a spiritually mature person. We see things differently. We never fail. If we’ve helped one person to believe the truth, we rejoice! We are like the bird; we may be sitting on the bending branch, but we keep singing. We know we can and will fly, thanks to our God, our creator, and thanks to His son Jesus Christ, who leads and guides us through our every day.

 

Love, Carolyn