When I was a young teenager, one of my hobbies was shooting birds in the rural area in which I lived. I would roam the fields and woods, BB gun or bow and arrow in hand, looking for my next prey.

I regret that aspect of my mispent youth. 

I especially regret it when I sit on my back deck and watch the activity at the feeders, the birdbath and the houses I built for our little feathered friends. I love to watch them come and go, feeding their little ones, and I feel mighty sad when I find a fallen one in our yard.

It all brings to mind some words from Jesus in Matthew 10:29 (see the end of the blog for the context): 

Not one of these little creatures falls to earth apart from our Father.

That verse has often been mistranslated as not one of them falls to earth apart from our Father’s will or permission. That’s not what it says.

God didn’t commission me to kill the birds for sport. Not God’s will.

God did not give his permission for that little one to fall from the sky or a tree branch.

God didn’t want that to happen. God loves his creation, God nourishes his creation, but things happens. 

In this scripture from Matthew, Jesus is assuring his disciples that God’s presence never leaves us or any of his creation. No matter what happens to us, God is with us and for us. He loves us so very much, and we are assured of his loving presence moment by moment.

God is good. God is faithful. God will continue to work in even the worst situations for our own and creation’s good.

By the way, though I continued my evil ways for some time, I began doing funerals for the little guys. I would bury them and say a few words over them. Perhaps it was the beginning of God’s work in me to become a pastor, bringing life and not death to the flock God gave me.

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Matthew 10 context:

Jesus is speaking of the trials that the disciples will face in the days ahead.

²⁸ “Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.

^29-31 “What’s the price of a pet canary? Some loose change, right? And God cares what happens to it even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries. (Message Version)