02-19-12 A Knocked Out Hummingbird

The little thing hit the window hard. So hard it knocked itself out. Luckily my daughter Andee was close by and picked up the unconscious little Hummingbird before our dogs noticed.Hummingbirds, in spite of their size, are amazing creatures, flying acrobats. No other bird can do the areal maneuvers they are capable of, able to hover, fly backwards, sideways, or straight up and down. They slow their heart rates when resting, and if you and I were to burn calories like them we would need to eat 30,000 a day.I have often watched them at the feeders in front of our large living room window, sometimes, when the light hits them just right incredible colors light up, especially on their heads and throats. And those little guys fight, they have fierce air battles and high speed chases. But for all my Hummingbird watching have never seen one as up close as the little knocked out one in my daughter’s hand. What a beautiful creature it was, delicate, feather light, and covered in bright, almost neon green feathers that had sparkles of silver; a true work of art, a testimony to the creativity, imagination, and sense of beauty of God, its maker.Equally amazing is the fact that this bird’s crash not only was noticed by Andee. Almighty God saw it all even before she did, and who knows maybe that’s why she found herself in that spot at that time so she could scoop up the little flyer and care for it until it recovered and flew off. “Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s consent” Matthew 10:29 (HCSB). “Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” Matthew 6:26 (HCSB). It is astounding to me how much God cares for every single creature He designed and gave life to.Birds, however, are not the only ones who crash, who knock themselves out, we do as well. Although no one might notice, God does. Though our world of resembles the dogs on my front porch, who have neither mercy or compassion for an unfortunate ( maybe even foolish bird), God wants us to remember that no one is more aware of us than Him, no one cares more about us than Him. Oh, all the things God has to tell us, remind us of, even through a Hummingbird’s crash.The moment the little guy (or was it a girl?) flew off we lost track of him (her), but God didn’t. Even right now he knows the exact location and condition of that, and every other, Hummingbird – and ours as well. Jesus obviously thought it important to remind us of this truth, to help us with regular life, when we crash, when worry, and when we are afraid.This week, “Look at the birds of the sky …”            To God be all glory, love you Pastor Hans