The Sandwich Tern
While vacationing on the Gulf of Mexico this year, I had the pleasure of watching a small black and white bird, whom I now have found out, is called the Sandwich Tern (amazing what Google can do for us isn’t it?). I was sitting in the sand contemplating the world as these diminutive birds appeared one evening, not much for stature, these small but mighty birds would hover over the shallow waters, the cresting waves beneath them, and then suddenly dive bomb the waters in search for the evening’s meal. What struck me most was their great courage! Not at all bothered by the roar of the ocean below them, not taken back by the roar of the incoming tides, they dive seemingly without fear. Heck I’m scared half the time walking in or out of the ocean and I’m 1000 of times larger than these wee little birds.
What if we could live with this kind of unabashed zest for our lives? I suppose that would take a little faith, now wouldn’t it? There’s a song that I use to sing at church as a young girl, it was my go to standard any time I was called upon in a congregation to sing. It is one of my grandmother’s favorites and one of the first I remember committing to memory.
“Consider the Lilies they don’t toil nor spin but there’s not a king with more splendor than them, Consider the sparrow they don’t plant nor sow but they’re fed by the master, who watches them grow….”
This is from the scripture passage in Luke 12:22-31
“22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 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! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life ? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
I think the reason I loved this song so much is because there is so much comfort to be found in it’s words. How would our lives change if we believed we had someone watching over us? For me, it’s not so much about belief in this higher power or the mistaken “prosperity gospel” so popular these days as the courage in the moments. How different our journey would be if we had a little faith. It’s in having the faith that you can hit the home run — that the home run is hit!
So take heart from a little Sandwich Tern and go ahead and dive in! It’s not that you will always win but the journey will be so much sweeter.
#LoveOneAnother #Havealittlefaith
Love,
Cameron
Episcopal Lotus Flower in Bloom 