Birds of Blessing
Collection of 16 painting for the counselling offices at Crossway LifeCare for private showing with a one night public event included speaking this accompanying text:[
Do you ever think that Noah’s Dove felt insufficient in her message of peace?
Do you think that she practiced her lines on her flight back to the ark?
Returning after the rains had ceased
but the flood waters had not yet completely receded,
and she carries the twig of an olive tree.
As she flew, do you think she was thinking and thinking,
and overthinking how can she sweeten this message of hope because well,
the Earth is flooded and it’s just a twig in her beak.
Do you think she felt guilty?
Do you think she ever rested,
like truly rested,
after a reluctant decision not to return to the ark the second time.
Knowing that she was safe, made her home first.
All the while, Noah, his family, and the animals
were still at sea and still waiting.
Do you think?
I mean, if I was her, I would.
Do you think Elijah’s Ravens had imposter syndrome?
For somehow without application or interview
God employed them to supply the prophet with his morning and evening meals when he was camping out by the river.
Ravens can’t cook.
They can barely pretend to cook.
Do you think the ravens worried all day all night
about how they were to live up to the ministry God had called them to do?
Do you think they worried all day all night about how they might present this bread and meat for Elijah so it would look appetising enough?
Practicing holding it lightly with their claws so as not to puncture the crust and drop crumbs and serve some kind of mess of a dinner.
Do you think?
I mean, if I was, I would.
Do you think Noah felt resentment towards the dove?
Whom he had protected, fed, and housed for so long had now returned to taunt him with some weak sign of hope.
Do you think Noah said ‘Good Riddance’
upon his realisation she had left him behind,
forgotten him, for the peace that he was yet to see.
Do you think Elijah turned up his nose?
God promised him breakfast and dinner and he got bits of bread and meat from between a bird’s grubby talons.
Do you think Elijah sent it back?
Figured he could probably forage something better himself.
Do you think?
I mean, if I was, I would.
Do you think God gave the dove a simple task to boost her confidence?
After all, she is probably so insecure in her natural silky beauty that a task such as delivering a message is not difficult but very important, she really can’t mess it up and it will make her feel necessary.
Do you think God took pity on her?
Even giving her a couple of chances to get it right.
Do you think God considered all the birds and found the raven to be particularly culinarily blessed?
Did he consider all the birds and found the others, just not blessed in these particular skills, rather, blessed in other areas.
Was it part of God’s divine plan that ravens had a gastronomical aptitude in order to carry out this plan for Elijah?
And has he been distressed ever since ravens have concerned themselves with anything other than catering.
Do you think?
I mean, if I was, I would.
And if I was, I would.
And if you were, you probably would too.
Do you think?
I mean, they are just birds.
And I suppose. We are also just creatures.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat;
or about your body, what you will wear.
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Consider the ravens:
They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn;
yet God feeds them.
And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
With open wings, lets trust that it’s out of our hands.
With open wings, we give it all up to God, and we receive what he has for us.
With open wings,
let us accept the messages,
the gifts,
the tasks,
the purposes,
the life of God’s grace without worry,
Accept the hope and new strength that he offers.
For
“Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
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