“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

While pumping gas, I noticed the wind whipping up from the south, clouds coming with it. A rainstorm was on the way! Flags at several storefronts were straight out…fiercely waving with the wind. Then I heard it…Brawwk! Looking up, I saw 5 birds on overhead several wires. Some facing the wind, others parallel to it. As a gust hit, another one spoke up…Brawwk! At least that is what I THINK they were saying!

Now I’m not sure a bird can even MAKE the ‘R’ sound with it’s beak! But I was intrigued and watched. With the wind literally whipping up a storm, they balanced there, clamped to the swaying wires by their little birdy feet! Their feathers and heads counterbalanced the waves of wind as if they had not a care in the world! I wondered…why are they doing that??? Brawwk! Was all I got!

I thought of some possible scenarios if I were a bird. I could fly into the wind…but eventually collide with the storm. Or fly away WITH the wind…ultimately facing the same result when the storm eventually caught up. The birds didn’t seem to be pondering ANYTHING. They simply clung there in the wind, saying little, seemingly quite content! Silly birds!

While there is a reference to some people mounting up as eagles, the Bible refers me to a sheep and Jesus as The Great Shepherd. Remembering Psalm 23, I noted God supposedly led David beside still waters! As I watched the birds, I couldn’t help but wonder.

Psalm 23 is the Old Testament, much of it with David running for his life! I quickly hashed through verses in the New Testament and remembered that, in this world, it promises me everything BUT stillness. Things like persecution, trouble, hatred, tribulation, possibly a sword…but definitely a cross to carry…if I want to follow Him that is! I heard it again! Brawwk! It was then I think I got the message He was trying to tell me!

Those birds had no care in the world because they were BIRDS! If they got blown off, they had wings and could FLY! At best it would be fun. At worst they’d get a little work out. But nothing around them was of any great concern because they were ABOVE their environment! And so it is with me! Peace doesn’t come from the environment I live in, but from the Savior who lives in me! To that I can only say in agreement…Brawwk!

What do YOU say?