Strong in the Lord

We have lots of birds at the Obvious Family farm, even with a cat that will climb trees and lurk on the roof to hunt them. I’ve noticed that they have figured out when she sleeps in the daytime and come out to eat during her naps. She has a running battle with a couple of mockingbirds that aren’t taking any of her guff. Anybody who has had a run-in with a rampaging mockingbird knows that these are creatures from H-e-double hockey sticks. If you run afoul of this fowl they will harangue and swoop and chase you about ten feet further than they need to, to convince you to move along, and move along she does.

Yesterday I was driving home from church when a birdzilla,(apparently this is my week for gigantic birds), dived down out of one of the hackberry trees that border the fence line on our lane. It was one of a couple of Great Horned Owls that live in our neighborhood. It’s rare to see them in the daytime, but they are unmistakable, with about a 3’ wingspan.

As he banked for height, I saw the little mockingbird hot on his tail, matching the owl in speed and altitude, and turn for turn, herding the bigger bird like a flying sheepdog, until the owl was beyond the horizon.

I wonder what kind of instinct sends a small, defenseless bird out after a much larger and formidable bird of prey? I would expect smart little birds to hunker down until the danger passed by. I would expect smart birdzillas to stop and flex his talons and think, “Hey, I could just stand my ground in front of this pipsqueek and have some extra protein for breakfast.” Instead, apparently heedless of its disadvantage, the little one takes after the voracious raptor as though winning is certain. And it is.

Maybe this is some of what it means to be strong in the Lord. Joshua told his army, “One man of you puts to flight a thousand...” Early in life, at the height of his strength, Samson killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. At the end of his life - blinded and in chains - he took out 3,000 more of the enemies of God. And who can forget the boy David’s determined defeat of the Philistine giant Goliath, while Saul’s army cowered behind him? What was the commonality among them that brought them their victories? 1) None of these battles were defensive - they were all offensive, part of an advance; 2) they all sought God and dedicated the battle to the Lord ahead of their advance; and 3) they followed through to the end, no matter the personal cost - they were all total routs.

Whatever your battle, whatever your disadvantage, however formidable your opponent - take the offense, dedicate your efforts to the Lord and follow through until your adversary disappears beyond the horizon. And if your opponent reappears, (remember, Goliath had four vengeful brothers; and Satan left Jesus in the wilderness, only to return at an “opportune time”), then do it again. The rest of Joshua’s reminder above is “...since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you.”