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I have been thinking a lot about my experience last week, saving the little starling bird that was stranded in the subway station. From idle musings, like “I wonder if someone else would have stopped to help the bird if I hadn’t?” and “I wonder how many people rushed by and either didn’t see the bird or didn’t even think of stopping to help it?”, to “I hope the little bird is doing OK and living free with the rest of his flock”.

But there are deeper things that have lodged in my soul, my spirit, that move me to share with other seeking enquiring souls. God says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Here are some key revelations I had from my starling experience:

1. I am the bird

• I’m caught up in the rush of daily living
• I’m on a path where everyone is moving purposefully but I am confused
• everyone seems to be going in one direction but I’m going the other way
• I don’t know if I can make it on my own; I need help

2.  God is the saver

•  he watches over me, hovers protectively, guides me gently
•  he is able to swoop in, pick me up and move me where he knows I should go – but he doesn’t. His Spirit nudges, whispers, and encourages me in the way I should go, but leaves the decision to me (free will)
• God knows my full potential and he works with me – patiently, lovingly – until (like the bird) I am ready to fly

I came away from my experience with the lost stranded little bird with a beautiful picture of my heavenly Father’s loving caring. Yes, God is the awesome bigger-than-life entity who sees and knows all. But he is also our loving Abba father, who cherishes, nurtures and helps us – to become our best selves and to live the best life, which he has planned and prepared for us.

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Sometimes God allows difficult and painful experiences, knowing they will teach us an important lesson. He is more interested in our character than our comfort; but nothing is wasted in God’s economy. He can use the darkest hardest most agonizing or our experiences to bring about some good.

Like the little starling bird, sometimes I walk easily with God; other times, I zig and zag, moving in the right general direction, but with a slight detour here, a rebellious little blip there. And God continues, faithfully and lovingly, to walk with me.

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