Loud chirps drew me to the window. On the lawn, were four robins. The adult (red breast), was hopping about doing what robins do. The other three, this year’s chicks (speckled breasts), were hopping, too, but in different ways.
The first chick was right behind the parent, chirping insistently to be fed. After all, that’s how it has always been. Why change now?
The second was a little behind it. Was it watching jealously, hoping that the chirpy bird gets the worm?
The third was in the garden. It paid no attention to the others, focusing instead on learning to hear worms.
The drama went on for some time, the parent bird ignoring the noise and continuing to teach by example. I have no doubt that all the chicks finally got with the program.
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It’s so easy these days to insist that everything should remain “the way it’s always been.” It’s easy to watch and worry that others are getting preferential treatment. It’s difficult to dig in and learn the growth-work.
Like robins, people were never meant to remain unfledged. But, also like robins, we must do our own growing.
Growing is learning. Growing is doing. One learns to successfully balance a bike only when the parent lets go. Once learned, though, they say you never forget how.
Growing is failing and trying again. That’s how every child learns to walk. (Fortunately, babies are build close to the ground: it’s not so very far to fall!)
Solomon reminds us, … the Lord gives wisdom. Much learning and understanding come from His mouth. Proverbs 2:6 New Life Version.
That wisdom is free for the asking.
Jesus says, Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:29-30 The Message
Walk, work, watch and learn. Like the parent robin, Jesus teaches by example, tailoring lessons to our readiness – and need. But the responsibility to learn is ours. He will not give us the “worms” we were created to acquire for ourselves.
As for those young robins, they cannot go successfully into their future without learning the lessons of today.
Neither can we.