Thursday March 28: 23 Adar II

I recall a morning when I was sitting outside, having my morning coffee and reading the news. Eventually, I became interested in some small wrens who busily gathering twigs and paper to build their nests. As I was observing this, a few squirrels scurrying around and digging in the ground, looking for something, caught my attention. Eventually I went back to reading the headlines of the day. That day was no different from any other day where the news is concerned – bleak, depressing and crisis upon crisis. No wonder that so many people struggle with depression. When we focus on all the disturbing things going in the world, it has the potential to alter our mindset and consequently, our actions.

At some point during my perusal of the depressing aspects of life, I turned my attention back to the birds and the squirrels. It occurred to me that these little creatures don’t fret over the headlines and they don’t obsess over the next looming crisis. They go about doing what they were created to do, because for them, the world goes on and so do they. Day after day they do what they were designed to do – functioning according to their purpose. As they do this, they discover that, each and every day, their Creator provides everything they need. It is in this spirit that look to the words of Messiah, who said:

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? (Luke 12:22-28)

It all sounds so simple, and yet, we find it so difficult to do. According to the Messiah, the difficulty has something to do with our lack of faith. We know from experience that the Creator provides for us every day there is a pattern for that, if we’re looking for it. For me, it came by way of a little bird, gathering twigs for its nest which, by the way, were in ample supply. God provided twigs so they could build their nest and life could go on, as it was intended to be.

On the day that I took note of this little bird gathering these twigs and things, the Creator reminded me, in very dramatic terms, that He watches over us, even when we we’re not thinking about it. He orchestrates events that are intended to provide and care for us, oftentimes, when we are oblivious to what’s about to come our way. We can’t stop tomorrow and what it brings but we can control how we respond. Whatever happens, life will go on and so should we – we must go on being who He created us to be and doing what we’re created to do.

When you really stop and think about it, He really does care about us; He really does provide for us, and He does so in advance. When I need it, it’s there and it’s where I need it to be. It really is true – He’s never late, never early, but right on time. When we truly embrace that and realize that He actually is paying attention to us, our lives and our circumstances, we can be confident that wars, famines and pestilences are no match for the Creator’s love and provision. I’m reminded of a very old song that says:

“I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free. For His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me” – and you.