the feather-plucking love of God...

Daily Readings:

First Psalm: Psalm 30; Psalm 32 Second Psalm: Psalm 42; Psalm 43
Old Testament: Ezekiel 39:21-29 New Testament: Philippians 4:10-20
Gospel: John 17:20-26

My love of animals led me to work at a few pet stores during my days of ramblings.  Fish, dogs, cats, snakes, lizards, birds I've cleaned up behind them all and been bitten by most of them at one point or another. It was in the store an hour before the doors were unlocked with all of these critters that I was able to witness their true nature.

Love Birds really are love birds. They mate for life. If you separate them awhile to clean a cage, they squawk loudly to one another, pacing back and forth, climbing up and down the bars of it's cage. When they are reunited they huddle together and preen each others feathers to remove any thing that may have gotten on them.

It is a pitiful sight when one dies and it is not long before the other joins. Birds who are in deep, chronic distress literally pull their feathers out. What once created to be two intertwined life-mates with radiant color has become a naked, shaking, pitiful remnant. I am convinced they die of a broken heart. Like a grandparent who has lost their spouse of many years they loose their will to live.

Todays' readings remind us that we are God's love bird, bonded for life. In our sinful state we took our eyes off our mate and flew the coop after other Gods. We were placed in exile apart from him. We were adulterous and we were chastised not for our destruction, but so that we would be restored.  We plucked our feathers in desperation; lying in sackcloth.

"O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.   

O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit."

Psalm 30:2-3

 God and his people were created to like the lovebird; monogamous and faithful. We flew the coop and God flew after us. We are separated from full intimacy with him but for awhile. He promised that would never leave us or forsake us forever (Hebrews 13:5). This fact should keep us faithful and calm no matter what hits us. This is the "secret" Paul speaks about concerning being content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:10-12).

Do you find yourself plucked naked feeling alone? Be of good cheer, your lovebird promised He would return. God did more than pluck his feathers while we were apart. He will give us new plumage, He will preen them whiter than snow.  He is faithful, unto death.