One of my MOST favorite things to see living in Missouri, and I do mean MOST, is birds flying in formation. Everywhere we go, especially when we get out into the country we see birds in the fields. All of a sudden they all decide to jump into the air together and after some re-arranging they form a V formation and begin to fly. We see this weekly, if not multiple times a week.
I l.o.v.e. it.
He patiently allows me to do this (because he is wonderful)
If we are outside walking somewhere I will stop and just watch them for a while. Sometimes from my desk at work I can see a flock rise in the sky before the windows and I just watch until I can no longer see the birds.
Something about this process is utterly breath-taking to me. How do they know how to do this formation? How do they communicate to one another that their rest on the ground has been long enough and it is time to continue their journey? Obviously, God designed them this way. But truly it is amazing. I did a little teeny tiny bit of research on the subject one day and it fascinated me all the more. This V formation allows the birds to be more arrow dynamic, by flying in a group they take tons of pressure off of themselves making their task, the journey, so much easier. The birds take turns flying in the front and certain side positions to make sure that no one bird is pulling the weight of the entire group. It seems so effortless, at moments it looks perfect. It is incomprehensible that a creature so simple could accomplish such a feat.
I have been contemplating writing this blog for a while now. Just, haven't gotten around to it. In fact, every time I tug on my husbands arm to point out yet another flock of birds he suggests that I should write a blog about the topic.
Watching birds fly has made me contemplate two things in life recently. 1) I am in desperate need for community 2) We are SO so SOOO designed for community. Which, duh, I already knew these things because well, God says so in His Word.
Life has been lonely here. Very. Zach and I have been very removed from any type of community and it can be extremely challenging at times. While I know that God has had a purpose for this I still long for the chapter where we can do life alongside other people.
Romans 12: 3-8
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
As believers, God has designed us to be in flocks. Flying in a V formation. Taking turns being the in the lead, and falling behind. Pulling the weight of others and at times allowing them to pull us. We each have a purpose and a reason that we are in group we are in. All so we can accomplish the task, finish the journey, win the race that Christ has marked out for us before the foundation of the earth was laid. Sometimes, when a whole big mess of birds makes that first jump off the ground and into the sky it looks chaotic. But if you watch there are little v's forming that eventually transition into one big formation floating through the sky. Life can get messy. Community can get messy. But, we were given a flock to be part of, to do life along side. To fight through the journey with. God did not design us to make this journey alone.
Thankful for lessons God teaches me even in the smallest things of life.
So Glad I Read This Love You Girl!
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