A Life-Lesson I Learned From Observing Pigeons.
INSPIRATION FROM PIGEONS? SERIOUSLY?
So here in New Zealand I have to confess that pigeons haven’t even remotely played any part in my life. They have never inspired me and certainly haven’t ever taught me anything, let alone a life-lesson.
From what I have read (thanks Google!) there are ‘feral’ pigeons in Europe, and around the world. I really hope that I am not the only person who has got inspiration from the ‘rodents of the sky’ (as they are named)? In 2018 I got married and moved to my husband’s home in Auckland, New Zealand. We are incredibly fortunate in that we have a large back yard with a huge, Pohutukawa tree (known as the NZ Christmas tree as it flowers with spectacular red flowers in December here) at the back of our property.
In the time that we have lived here together (since March 2018) I had only come out and sat on our deck as I ate breakfast and lunch in the summer. However, this year, I decided that I was jolly well going to sit out there year round. So with my extremely ‘glamorous’ (the inverted commas there meaning that I am being sarcastic when I say that) warm dressing gown on over my pajamas, this year I have sat out there all year around.
I have been delighted to be able to throw bread out (I now actually make a point to buy a loaf of ‘bird bread’ (the cheapest on the market at $1.09), and now also wild bird seed, to feed the birds each morning.
I have come to see that there is a real hierarchy amongst the birds, with the pigeons being somehow far braver and superior to the sparrows for instance. The sparrows run out of their way once the pigeons land.
THE BEAUTY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL BIRD
What I have come to see is how each pigeon has different, intricate patterns on their back, completely different to any other bird. Also, how incredibly stunning the colors are on the neck of each pigeon. It has made me think how fortunate they are, that they don’t need to wear makeup, jewellery or adornment as God has essentially provided it for them. I have been quite stunned how gorgeous each individual pigeon actually is. The incredible colors on their necks that change as they move. Seriously, why do we worry about our appearance when God has already ‘clothed’ pigeons so beautifully. They don’t spend any time thinking about their appearance and yet are actually individually, surprisingly really, quite gorgeous.
DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE.
Pondering on this led me to think of the ancient words of the apostle Matthew, who wrote about worry in Matthew 6 of the Bible (NIV); “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? 27 Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? 31 So do not worry…. 34 Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
ACCEPT AND EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE.
Oh, and one last thought, in observing these birds daily I have come to see that they are all completely different from the other, some quite dramatically so. I have been astonished by how beautiful each bird, individually, actually is. This has led me to think, why do we strive to look like others and look the same as fashion dictates? Why do we strive to be the same when we actually are all completely different from each other and beautiful individuals. Just like the pigeons, we are uniquely, individually beautiful.
Seriously, why, when God provides so beautifully for nature (for mere flowers and pigeons that are here today and gone tomorrow), without any effort on their behalf. Why do we fret about whether things, often very small things, in life? Why do we feel that we can’t leave them in God’s hands and trust him? It is worth asking ourselves that question, don’t you think?
#image #beauty #appearance-anxiety #self-acceptance`
