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Dear TSJ Friends,
I am really trying to adopt a healthy attitude about mistakes. And that is to remember that to live is to learn and there is often a nugget of 
wisdom we gain from our mistakes. There are messages that come out of our messes in life if we are open to seeing them through the lens of love versus the lens of fear and negativity.
Today’s Story: His Eye is on the sparrow and the gold finches and all of HIs Creation! Us too!
As many of you know already, I am a country girl who is happiest when I am surrounded by Mother Nature. Nature is my go-to teacher and source of comfort. It is the closest I come to hearing God speak. And as a troubled child it was my salvation. Nature is bigger than I. Its expansiveness makes me feel bigger more expansive and more peaceful and courageous at the same time.
Years ago, when I was seeking profound guidance about blogging and coaching I got a message one night while soaking in a bubble bath. It came “out of the blue” and came through as a clear, almost audible thought: “Go to Nature for your Answers.” I did not fully understand it then and I still ponder it, but it speaks to how big God is.
And we learn in scripture that Jesus often taught spiritual lessons using nature as the object. Today we are focusing on the fact that he said His Father knows every little sparrow that falls to the ground.
God is clearly in the winds and rolling waves and – for me – in sweet songs of the birds. Which brings me to today’s musing.
As you have read in years past, Mr. Tom and I watched birds come to a feeder at our kitchen window every single day when we lived at the former headquarters of our family and my TSJ office. The feeder was above my office, so seeds that fell from the upstairs window feeder to the ground below were snatched up by birds who foraged on the ground as well as the feeder. I was delighted by both.
Upstairs – or downstairs – I was privileged to watch birds and other wildlife such as squirrels and wild turkeys competing for the seeds.
I have missed watching the birds up close. I have missed them profoundly. I was excited about moving here because our backyard faces the path and a bird sanctuary trail. But I cannot see the birds in the trees.
And I long to watch the colorful display of bird varieties and bird behaviors.
So I set up a feeding station near our small back porch. I was beyond excited. And so were the birds. And the squirrels. And about 19 ducks that waddled over to our house (across other lawns) to the feeder. Not good. We are in a development and I remember hearing that we would be ill advised to be feeding the birds or wildlife. But I didn’t remember where I heard it.
Mistake! The birds flocked in by the dozens. My happiness was soon clouded with concern about the neighbors. And the possible invasion of too many squirrels and messy ducks. To add to my concern, while looking for something else, I happened across my housing contract and it clearly says not to feed birds and wild animals. Sadly, I took down the feeder.
Oh my. I do not know which I learned the most from. Putting the feeder up or taking it down!
I underestimated bird communication! You should have seen how quickly the birds discovered the feeder. And how the ducks who lived far down the pond heard about seeds at the Setchells. Soon we had squirrels romping across lawns and about 19 ducks waddling to our feeder twice a day.
And I never anticipated the literal rebellion they would stage when I removed the feeder! They sat on the roof of our house, on the bird bath and on the shepherd’s hook that had held the feeder. And they waited. And they swarmed. They seemed angry and frantic.
I felt terrible. I cared about them. And I caused them grief. They counted on me. And I was being held accountable by the birds (!) for my actions.
You see action does bring with it certain accountability!
I was reminded of the law of cause and effect. Of unintended consequences. And I grieved that I had misled them.
And I learned that the sparrows, finches, ducks, squirrels have eyes. They could spot seeds from far away and pass the message of good news on. I tried to hide the feeder behind our grill for a couple of hours while I figured out what to do with it. They found it! They swarmed it.
It took about 24 hours for them to give up coming for their seeds.
My heart was sad. I am now trying a new spot down by the pond. Too far to see them closely but at least they have their feeder.
And as I sat pondering the situation when I opened up the computer to write to you an old gospel song came to mind called, “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”
The refrain says, “I sing because I’m happy; I sing because I’m free- for His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.”
The song reflects a passage in the New Testament where Jesus assures us our “Father knows every sparrow that falls to the ground” and how much more He cares for us.
Ultimately the birds are in good hands. And so are we.
Margie and Solomon
