Thorns

So, there we were, Dusty and I, on our usual route this morning. The Tabernacle Chorus swelling from the treetops, harmonies and melodies dipping and diving as the birds dart and flit here and there. Lovely, inspiring, as I’ve often written.

Dusty is rather an old lady now, (unlike me...), so as I waited for her to catch up I stood still on the path and gradually became aware of movement among the thorny gorse bush on the side of the path. 

A wee brown bird hopped from the thorns onto the barbed wire stretched there between two fence poles. Agile, adept, the indistinct and silent bird danced along the wire and back into the thorny gorse bush, apparently missing every danger of impalement. 

I’d never noticed this kind of bird before, and then I noticed there were two of them in there, popping around in silence, skipping round the barbs and thorns.

There are people in life whose voices or actions or beauty command attention, admiration and respect. But hidden within the thorns are the silent and undistinguished folk who are just getting on with it. Their talents, though considerable, go unnoticed, and yet they may be working in situations of danger and tricky relationships. 

We live in the age of celebrity, where folk are keen to be known for anything rather than be unknown. But nobody is unknown. Jesus tells us that the Father has numbered the hairs of our head, and encourages that we are worth so much to God. 

Though nobody else may notice the way you are skipping around the thorny issues in your life today, handling the prickly people and bringing peace into discordant situations, just getting on with it.... God the Father notices. He notices and loves you for it.

We don’t have to sing with the sweetest voice. We just need to get on with what God has given us talents for, to the best of our ability. And when we do, the angels sing and the Father rejoices over us.

Have a great day.