Learning To Fly

As my own teens near the legal age of independence, I cannot help but think of how, in nature, a mother bird pushes her young offspring out of the nest so that they may learn to fly.I remember the first time I witnessed that act as a small child. I thought how cruel the mother bird must be for caring so little about her children that she would literally push them out of their comfortable home. While some of the tiny birds fluttered their wings and took off assuredly in the afternoon sky, I recall one little fellow who was so fearful to try out his wings he plummeted to the cold hard earth. He appeared to sustain no serious injury, but for the next hour or so hopped about wildly while squawking in the grass. Oddly, the mother bird did not abandon her child, but watched for predators who could do her little one harm. Seeing his mother was not going to carry him back to the nest, the little bird jumped up and finally took off on his own to search for worms or do whatever it is birds naturally do. As I grew older, I pondered that same momma bird, realized that the true act of cruelty would be to prevent teaching her offspring for learning how to fly and search for their own food independently. Such an act would cause the bird's starvation and eventual death. As a mother I also try to give my children wings to soar so they will be well-prepared when they enter the world on their own. Sometimes, like that mother bird, I (or their dad) have the painful task of watching them occasionally stumble and fall, but always rising wiser and stronger.. In like manner, God does not wish to control us, but He gives us wings in the form of a thinking brain and free will. As a loving Father, God desires man to know and love Him, but it is up to us to fly toward Him. Today, won't you consider stretching your wings and a course toward God?

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr