-Smack Your Head

On a cold Saturday afternoon I was sitting enjoying a meeting at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center in their beautiful Dining Hall when off in the distance I heard a strange sound.  Not quite a “ping,” not quite a “thud.”  I looked beyond me and noticed a bright red cardinal fluttering around a tree outside.  The bird was a beautiful sight against the cold, wintery weather.  The strange thing about this sight was what the cardinal was doing.  This beautiful part of God’s creation was continually resting on a branch and then taking flight… right into one of the Dining Hall’s windows.  SMACK!  Nothing.  SMACK!  Nothing.  SMACK!  The goofy bird kept flying into the window again and again. 

Why?  I’m sure there is some techincal reason why birds do this sort of thing.   Birds do this all the time and many times they end up seriously hurting themselves!  Seems pretty dumb doesn’t it?  We can all understand flying into a window ONCE – but many times?

We’re not that different.  Yes, sadly we do the same thing.  We know what is good for us and we know what is bad.  Our “windows” that we run into could be gossip, drugs, alcohol, bullying, sex, lying, stealing, putting people down – you get the picture.  I looked at this beautiful red bird doing something so stupid and it made me a little angry - yet sad.  Why was this bird so stupid and what could I do to make it stop.  It may be that God looks at us the same way.  God sees us doing stupid things, making bad choices.  We hurt ourselves and many times each other. 

How does God protect us, help us, and teach us not to smack our heads against a wall?  Our faith, God’s Word (scripture), and God’s wonderful and saving Grace all help protect and keep us from danger and harm.  The question is do we listen to God and follow His direction – or do we continue to do what we think is right and end up continuing to smack against the glass?

The Lenten season is almost here.  Lent is a wonderful time to think about how each of us listens to God’s voice.  You’re not alone in making mistakes.  We all do stupid things,  the sooner you figure out you’re being a bird brain and not following God, the sooner you can fly off in the right direction – God’s wonderful plan for you!  Peace!!!