The Parable of the Birds

Sitting on the wire, a hummingbird, a house wren, a swallow, and a killdeer were discussing the housing industry.

The hummingbird bragged, “My nest is one of the smallest built by any bird. It is small, compact, and very neat if I do say so myself. And I can build it almost anywhere.”

To which the swallow replied, “Yours is definitely a small work of art and I have never understood how you can weave that grass so tightly, but I assure you a swallow’s nest is much better than a hummingbird nest. You nest in the trees and your nest may be blown down by a strong wind. Now MY nest is made in the sheltered corners of the humans’ buildings and with the use of mud to hold it together, it is always there when we come back the next year.”

“You definitely build too close to the humans. I have seen many of them knocking down the nest once you leave for the year,” replied the hummingbird.

“You both make much too much over a nest!” screamed the house wren. I build THREE nests and the little woman gets to choose which one she wants when she shows up….”

“You call that mess a nest?” screeched the hummingbird and swallow. “Surely you must be joking!” they laughed.

“My nest is sufficient to lay eggs in and raise children” pouted the house wren.

“Yeah, if it doesn’t fall apart or blow away,” snorted the other two.

About that time the killdeer decided it was time for another point of view and said, “I don’t build a nest at all,” he cackled. “I lay my eggs on the gravel that the humans leave lying around and if anyone or anything comes too close, I have the perfect plan. Instead of “dive bombing” them like the 3 of you, I merely make a lot of noise, act like I have a broken wing and lead the intruder away from my eggs. Once they chase me far enough, I simply fly away. There, no fuss, no bother.”

The argument then became very loud and very heated as each defended his own way of doing things.
They made so much noise that a dove flew up from the meadow to see what all the fuss was about. He listened carefully as each one made his case. Then, scratching his head thoughtfully, he replied, “Now let me make sure I understand everything I have heard. You all have nests, right?”

All four nodded their heads in agreement.

“And all the nests are capable of holding the eggs and the children until they are old enough to go out on their own, right?

Again, more nodding.

“And I think we can all agree that we are all birds and share many things, the most important of which is birthing and growing more children for otherwise we birds will all die out, right?

“Yes”

“Well then what are you arguing about? Just because one of you likes a small nest, another a mud nest, yet another a messy nest and a fourth no nest at all, doesn’t change the fact that we are birds and the Creator told us at the beginning to be fruitful and multiply. No matter how much we argue, we cannot deny that there is only one Creator, one command, and one result. All we need to do is be obedient and love one another.”

The four birds hung their collective heads in shame. Here they had been arguing over outward appearances when all that really matter was the command of the one and only Creator and being obedient to Him. How could they have been so silly?

All the birds decided it was time to check in at home and help care for the children. As they flew away, they thanked the Creator for the good news the dove had shared with them. Now, they see how silly all their petty bickering about their differences was.

In fact, I believe I saw the swallow holding the feeder so the hummingbird could drink the nectar. And later that morning I know I saw the house wren, the swallow and the killdeer taking turns and helping one another at the bird feeder.

Funny how we humans also argue over the things that don’t really matter. The only thing that matters is that there is One Creator, God, and He sent His Son so that we would have good news to share with each other, our families and the entire world. And best of all we have His love to share with one another.

Next time you see a bunch of birds chattering away on a wire, remember that their differences are not as obvious as the love they share with each other.

“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God”, Romans 15:7