The Safety of the Nest

This weekend I went out on my front porch to take down the wreath that has hung on my door throughout the fall and winter. As I reached to remove it from its resting place, I noticed something that seemed a little out of place. 

 Tucked neatly in the folds of the wreath, a bird had built a cozy little home. I was delighted to see the carefully placed grass, feathers, and twigs of a tiny little nest. I quickly grabbed a stool for a closer inspection. As I did I was tickled to discover yet another surprise. Nestled inside were two perfectly formed speckled eggs. 

A little bird picked the wreath as the perfect location to start a new family. (I suppose the decoration will stay for another season!) I was excited to think of the prospects of watching these tiny eggs become clumsy little birds. I can't wait to see them hatch and watch those big mouths open to receive food from their mama. I can't wait to watch as they stretch their wings and learn to fly.

This morning I went to peek in on my little family. Another surprise! Little mama has been busily adding to her brood! The two little eggs have been joined by another. 

I cannot wait to watch this little family grow! I snapped more pictures and smiled at my luck! Moments later I sat down to look at the images on my phone and realized I had a notification from my Timehop app (This fun little app brings up pictures and posts that you have shared on this day over the past years.) I was momentarily distracted and opened the app to see what images from my past might pop up today. Six years ago on this very day I posted this quote, "It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad." ~C.S. Lewis

I am always amazed at God's planning. I think he must be trying to get my attention!

I began thinking about that quote and the little eggs on my  porch. They are sweet little eggs. They seem perfect in every way, but God's plan is not that they stay little eggs. The babies inside will have their days of sitting peacefully in the nest protected from the world by a thin protective shell, but then the moment will come when they either break out and begin the next adventure or they stay inside and go bad. They were never intended to only be eggs. They were meant for so much more.

The same is true for us. Sometimes we want just the comfort of the nest. We don't want to get outside of our protective shell and be exposed to the threats of the world. Becoming a "bird" seems like really hard work and we'd rather just stay safe, but we can't learn to fly until we take a risk. We weren't meant to stay in the safety of our shell. We were meant to learn to fly, but worries and anxieties keep us from taking that next step. What if I fail? What if I get hurt? What if I look foolish? What if it isn't safe? God knew we would have those questions. Here is what he says, "Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?" Matthew 6:26

You and I can't be all we were intended to be in the nest. It may not seem safe to get out of  our shells. We may have fears and worries, but God is very clear. The one who provides for the birds will also provide for us.

"So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:31

I don't know what lies ahead, but I am going to be watching! I don't want to be just an ordinary, decent egg. I want to fly! Come with me!!

P.S.

I can't let it go without saying that six years ago God planted this quote in my mind. Weeks ago he had that little mama bird start building a nest. A few days ago that little mama started laying eggs. Today a silly little app brought the quote full circle at just the right moment. All these things were perfectly aligned to teach me a lesson today. God is all around carefully orchestrating ways to communicate with us. All we have to do is see. Some say seeing is believing. I think what my sister posted yesterday on facebook is the real truth ---believing is seeing!