Just off the back porch of my house growing up sat a big beautiful birdhouse. My family and I spent countless hours watching all different kinds of birds perch themselves on the front peg for a tasty nibble. These birds ranged from all different colors and sizes, some coming from other areas of the country and others coming from more exotic parts of the globe. It was always fun to think about what brought each bird to our particular birdhouse. Were they filling their stomachs for a long journey ahead, was our yard just a pit stop, or had they reached their destination?
On occasion, we would spot a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird hovering over our feeder. Can you believe that the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, weighing no more than a penny, flies to Ohio from South America, which includes a 500-mile flight over the Gulf of Mexico? My mother would always point out the bright blueness of an Indigo Bunting, which was her favorite bird to see. I also loved catching a glimpse of the yellow Kentucky Warbler, which was usually heard before it was seen because of its unique sound. Birds of all colors and sizes would eventually find their way to that birdhouse in our backyard. Each one having a story about where they had been and what they have seen, all of them simply longing to be fed.
Recently, our neighbors around Lord of Life pointed out that a friendly visitor has been lurking amongst our trees. We saw this Red-Tailed Hawk when it came swooping down to our branches and perched itself just outside our windowpane. Given the size of this beautiful animal, it would need something a little larger than the birdhouse suited for the Hummingbird in my backyard. After all, their nests alone can be more than 3 feet wide and 3 feet high. Although these hawks do not migrate across continents, they travel based on breeding and feeding patterns, rather than the weather. As I gazed upon its stature, I began to think that maybe this church is serving as a kind of birdhouse for this Hawk. After all, it likely has come from another area, stayed for the abundant food source, and would soon be on its way; returning once the smaller creatures have begun to multiply again.
Like birds, we also all have different backgrounds and stories that tell about where we’ve come from and what we have seen. Some of us have come to Lord of Life from different areas of the country, others have come from across the globe, but we all have made our way here somehow. Like the Hawk, some of us have left and returned, while others have always been here. Our collective stories and diversities are what make this place beautiful. Each Sunday morning, we gather together for worship, to be fed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This food nourishes our hearts and fills our souls, so that we too, can be sent out into the world. The church is serving as a birdhouse for the world. A place that freely welcomes all and always has abundant food to share.
I am no Ornithologist, but I have to think that the variety of appearances and different migration patterns of birds make it difficult to categorizes all the variety of species. How does one know how to label a bird if they are always on the move and all look so different? Although we may have difficulty labeling and identity the many kinds of birds, God knows each of us by name. We are claimed by God and there is no question about where we belong. Although we may always be looking for “home,” God will guide us when we are lost and lead us into community. God will never let this birdhouse go empty of seed. And once we are fed, God will continue to navigate our flight to the next stop, so that we are always fulfilled and able to share the love that we have been given to the world.