Recently, when I meditate at dawn, I am especially mindful of the leaves and the birds.

Most mornings, some leaves are stirring somewhere. The wind—or at least a breeze—is blowing somewhere. The tops of the trees across the cul-de-sac. The branch of the tree just outside my window.

The stirring of the leaves reminds me of this teaching of Jesus: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 2:8).

I wonder, where is the breeze of the Spirit stirring today? Where is the wind of the Spirit blowing today?

In my life? In the lives of each person I meet?

Throughout churches? Throughout our neighborhoods? Throughout the United States? Throughout Humanity?

Most mornings, some birds are flying somewhere.

This morning, the Canadian geese were honking as they began their journey south for the winter.

Other mornings, sea gulls come seven miles from Lake Ontario—one of the Great Lakes—to circle around the skies in our neighborhood.

Almost every morning, tiny brown birds (let’s call them sparrows!) fly around, flapping their wings, seeking safety, searching for food, and enjoying the fun of being alive on a sunny day.

Seeing these birds flying reminds me to ask, “What kind of bird am I today?”.

Am I a “Canadian goose” flying a long way to a new life?

Am I a “seagull” circling among places and experiences outside my comfort zone?

Am I a sparrow, flapping my wings near my home while seeking safety, searching for food, and enjoying the fun of being alive on a sunny day?

Seeing these birds flying reminds me of these teachings of Jesus:

Our Heavenly Father cares about each sparrow that falls to the ground. “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29,31).

“I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or stow away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27).

As I start my day (even in this scary time of Pandemic and Protests), such thoughts about leaves and birds make it easier for me to say:

     —“Let it, go.”

     —“Be still, and know that I am God.”

     —“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

     —“This is the day that the LORD hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

     —“Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”

As I start my day, such thoughts about leaves and birds remind me of this teaching of Jesus:

“[S]eek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness [wherever the breezes and winds of the Spirit may blow], and all these things [such as food and clothing] will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34, KJV & NIV).

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To read more about my morning meditations, please read my blog “Pandemic Wisdom: Meditating”.

For additional thoughts on Pandemic Wisdom, please read my blogs “Fear Not the Pestilence That Stalks in the Darkness” “Getting Out of Your ‘Tent’”, “Trusting The LORD Will Provide”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Praying and Waiting”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Hear and See, Understand and Perceive”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Visions of America”, and “Pandemic Wisdom: The Faith of My Father”.