A Bird in the Hand

Perhaps you've heard this phrase - "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Meaning? It is better to have what you have than to take a risk.

I'm not a natural risk taker - I am for the most part risk adverse. But I have held a bird in my hand. Literally.

When I was a young adult, I was at my grandmother's house alone one day. She had a wood burning stove, but it was the summer and for obvious reasons it wasn't being used. I was in her living room, quietly reading, when I heard a commotion. Something had fallen in through the chimney and was stuck in the stove. There was noise and bumping and I was truly scared to death of what was trapped in the stove. There was no way to find out without opening the door and releasing whatever it was into the living room with me. I still remember how my heart raced as I tried to decide what to do.

After some time trying to figure out next steps, I decided I would hold a towel over the door as I tried to open it - not an easy task - but at least I was hopeful the thing inside wouldn't jump out onto me. Somehow I managed to complete this task alone, and into my toweled hands flew a beautiful little bird. I made sure not to touch it with my bare hands. I held it snuggly but not tightly, wrapped in the towel, terrorized I wouldn't make it out the door. I could feel its heartbeat beating rapid fire under my hands.

Somehow I managed to get this little bird to the door, open the door, step outside and release it. It glanced at me one quick second and was gone. I don't know who was more scared - me or the bird - but in that one sweet moment, I felt like I had done a good deed. I had released a little scared life back into the world, confused but no less worse for the wear. I am still amazed this story turned out the way that it did. It was like time stood still for me. I wondered what the little bird tweeted when it returned to its friends.

In a complex, complicated, and often anxious world, may you remember who you are. Even when things feel completely out of control, thunking about in the dark and making a loud racket, even when you are alone with nothing more than a towel as a tool, may you remember who you are. This story could have gone a different way - easily - but I got lucky, and so did the little bird. Have the courage to do small things, and to care for those smaller than you are. Every once in a while you'll catch a bird in your hand, and you'll have the chance to change a story for the better.

Rise up this morning, smiled with the rising sun

Three little birds pitch by my doorstep

Singing sweet songs of melodies pure and true

Saying, "This is my message to you-ou-ou"

Singing, "Don't worry about a thing" (Worry 'bout a thing, oh)

"Every little thing gonna be alright" (Don't worry)

-Bob Marley

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew 6:26-27