The Birds of the Air

Yesterday as spring was breaking through on the bank of the Hudson River, I sat and watched the birds for a while. A tidy row of seagulls was perched on an old beam near the shoreline. Their heads were turned toward each other as if engaged in conversation. In the water two serene groups of swans glided smoothly in circles around each other, producing gentle ripples that sparkled in the sunshine. Occasionally they would stretch their long necks out and plunge beneath the surface. Short but uniform lines of ducks were going to and fro in the little inlet near the shore. Circling above me were little birds in flight, not wanting to be left out of the social gathering.

I marveled at the peacefulness of all the different birds. They weren’t concerned or distracted with trying to be like other birds or different than they were. It was so nice.

Suddenly a shot split the air. The noise disrupted the scene entirely. The seagulls all simply flew away down the river. The swans got frantic, flapping their huge long wings and splashing the water, squawking as they slapped the river. The ducks all moved faster and huddled together. The birds in the air just disappeared.

When I heard the sound of the gun it caused me to think about man’s ability to destroy his environment. It made me sad to think of all the bad things man has done to Creation, abused her for selfish gain. Why haven’t we taken better care of her?

Man has fallen far from the creation that God created for him, his wife, and their offspring. But He is still there, waiting, longing for His children to return to Him, just as His Creation groans for them to be revealed.