In lieu of visiting our grandchildren in America, I am reading and videoing story books for them and sending the video as a link (impressive or what?) for the boys to listen to and see the pictures. The other day I read a book about Shearwater birds, also known as Mutton, Whale or Moon birds. The migratory story of these birds is remarkable.
They fly 30,000 kilometres a year back and forth between the northern and southern hemispheres. They travel south in spring to breed and in summer their chicks are born. In autumn, the adults ride the trade winds and travel north for their summer feeding. The chicks that have hatched only weeks earlier are left behind to fend for themselves. After growing for another couple of weeks, they too fly with the trade winds north to the feeding ground – how they know to go north, and how they actually navigate is essentially unknown.
One thing that really struck me was that the parents leave the chicks to find their own way. Obviously this is as nature intended, because it seems to work, but can you imagine humans doing that? Heading off north to a warmer climate and leaving the young offspring to follow when they are strong enough and hungry enough?
An even greater stretch of the imagination would be thinking that God leaves us to navigate alone. Fortunately, he does not do that – he is beside us all the way except for those times when he is carrying us.
Heavenly Father, we know you are with us on the brightest of days and the darkest nights. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen
Jacqui