Feeding babes. . .

On the balcony of my condo, a bird's nest has appeared. I know nothing about birds so I wouldn't presume to even guess what kind of birds have taken residence with me. I had the pleasure of watching the mother bird feed her 3 babies. God paints a beautiful story in Creation that I'm eager to share! These 3 little birds, unable to fly or feed themselves stretched their necks heavenward for a long length of time as the mother flew back and forth from gathering food to feeding. There they sat, chirping, necks stretched back, and mouths open wide. I wouldn't describe the babies as patient. In fact, at times, they were quite the opposite. Regardless of the mother's presence, their heads remained focused upward and their mouths remained open anticipating food.

What a parallel for Christian discipleship! Like these little birds, new babes in Christ often begin with robust appetites--it is an almost desperate hunger. I pray we always maintain such a hunger for the things of God. Though starving, new believers have not yet learned to feed themselves. So, they crane their necks with mouths open waiting anxiously to be fed. The wise and mature recognize that these babes are not yet ready for solid food. As Paul explains to the Corinthians, "I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it" (1 Corinthians 3:2). Here, on my balcony, I witnessed the same wisdom in this mother bird. Knowing solid food would not feed her children, she first found the food, ate it, digested it and then regurgitated it to her babes. It's interesting that this regurgitated nutrition looks very much like milk!! The point is rather direct: in discipleship (feeding the hungry), we must first seek the truth, receive it as truth, internalize and live it, and then offer it to the hungry. We must know the truth (digest it) before we can spread the truth (regurgitate it).

One day, these little birds will learn to fly and they will be able to feed themselves. I've heard that mother birds sometimes push their babies out of the nest to teach them to fly. This is true spiritually, as well! As they grow into adult birds, there will come a time when they, too, will feed babes. It is a continuous cycle--discipleship. We disciple, the discipled disciple, and so on. This is Kingdom growth demonstrated throughout Creation.

Truly, God is everywhere and in all things. Therefore, His message is everywhere and in all things for those willing to see it. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). I love it!

P.S. At one point, both mother and father were feeding the babes at the same time. Hurrah to partnership!