I don't know if it's the weather or what but we have TONS of birds visiting our backyard right now. They peck at the ground and fruit, gather twigs and...the other day, one decided to come inside!
I was sitting on the couch reading a book. Cameron was
playing in the backyard and had left the back door open. Connor was down
in one of the bedrooms. The other kids were at school.In case you didn't know. I don't really like to do anything but watch birds. Their flappy wings and pointed beaks are menacing to me. It could have something to do with our pet cockatiel we had that would chase me around the house when I was a kid (ok...I was a teenager). Or maybe the one time when I was in the shower and somebody opened the bathroom door and threw the bird into the shower with me. Whatever the reason...bengi up close and personal with a bird scares me.
So there I was...reading a book and this bird flew in and landed on the kitchen counter. He stood there for a second. I called for Connor to come see it/rescue me from it. Before I knew it, the bird flew to our kitchen window and was stuck behind the blinds which were down. Poor thing was flapping and fighting to get out...through the closed window.
Connor finally came and I showed him where bird was. We decided to open the blinds. The bird sat in the window seal....flapping it wings and trying to fly out the window!
I got a broom...and my phone to video tape this.
I gave the broom to Connor....and he tried to gently lead get it off the window seal...and lead it out the back door.
It didn't work.
So, we tried plan B. Which was to get a towel. Connor threw the towel over the bird...but the towel kept falling off and the bird kept flapping!
Meanwhile, I am video taping and talking in a sing songy voice to the bird...as if he/she could understand me.
"It's okay bird...we're just trying to help you."
"Calm down, it'll be okay"
"Come on...we'll give you a ride"
"You think there is only one way out..."
Finally...the towel trick worked! Connor was able to get the towel over the bird. The bird calmed down and just stood there, not moving. I summoned up my courage and picked up the towel+bird, carried it outside and released it. Thinking to myself "that bird just had a traumatic experience!"
Connor and I high fived and then we watched what I had recorded of the incident.
Here is a lesson I learned:
I am like that bird. I tend to think there is only one way out...and I tend to feel like I have to get out by myself. I don't see that I need help...I see where I want to go and just keep trying to get there...but more often than not, I am like that bird, trying to fly out a closed window.
Heavenly Father is there...even though I can't see Him or always feel Him. But He is there saying "Calm down, I am trying to help you. It's going to be okay. There is more than one way out".
