This was just too CRAZY not to Blog about!

This morning I returned home from a run and I access my bedroom through the backyard of the house. Right as I opened my door, my attentions were diverted towards the patio area where I heard a loud crash. At first, I assumed it was the gardener- but when it happened again, I decided to pay closer attention and witnessed a large black crow standing on the patio furniture inside the partially enclosed patio (two walls are glass). He was facing the glass wall and cawing. And then I noticed about 3 more crows cawing back from the surrounding trees and rooftop.

The crow jumped off the furniture perch and SMACK-- cracked his head right into the glass crashing to the floor. There was a flurry of wings feathers and when the dust settled I realized there were two. The other crow was also inside the patio pecking at the base of the glass wall.

I walked over to get a closer look- assuming they were fighting over food of some sort and when they both saw me they took off in full flight and CRACK! Right against the glass they both flew and dropped to the ground.

I finally understood what was going on- they were confused and trapped.

I hoped my presence would freak them out enough to find a quick exit, but instead- CRACK, SMACK, DROP - into the glass they both went over & over.

One of them shoved his body into a corner of the glass wall and I quickly corralled him towards the exit- but the other one - man he was stubborn!

I tried to coax him out to freedom like I did his partner but he cawed at me and mustered up enough lift to fly again- straight into the glass wall. He pretty much knocked the wind out of himself because after his final smack and fall he fluttered around and then stood there pressed up against the glass . . . stunned.

I approached him slowly. He noticed me hovering over him and swung his head around and looked me in the eye, and in that instant something happened between us. That black, scary adult bird who when roaming with his cronies is known as "murder" looked straight into my eyes, and submitted himself to me. He stopped flapping, stopped struggling, and I don't know what made me think this was okay but I reached down, gathered his wings towards his body and picked him up with both hands. He didn't struggle, he didn't try to bite me, and he didn't seem to think I was going to harm him. I walked him calmly to the exit, and threw him into the air and off he flew into the tree tops followed by a half a dozen of his cawing cronies.

I gathered my composure and replayed the event in my head. Did I? Nah . . . Did I just go and PICK UP a wild bird like that? I did, didn't I?

A tiny black feather was stuck to my pinkie. Proof! Huh. I guess I did.

I thought and thought about that encounter for the rest of the day. I called a few people to tell them my crazy tale, and then I realized something. There is that verse about the sparrow and how the Lord feeds them, and notices when they fall. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the reality of that. I mean, I know God is with me- everyday all the time- but with those birds? Those crazy, eerie, annoying carnivore scavengers? And He provided a way to aid in their survival today? Suddenly somehow, that made God SO MUCH BIGGER.

To me, the crazy scenario was such a real demonstration of God's love and mercy. The way that bird looked at me and submitted to trust me to deliver him to safety like that was incredible. As if he had no other choice but to smack and crack his skull a few more times and then succumb to exhaustion . . . how did he know that I wouldn't just do him in right there?

The thing is, he didn't!

I could dismiss the event as simply a bizzare occurance that makes an entertaining story . . . but then maybe I'll have missed the true point. It's so obvious. But I'll let you take my story and dissect it yourself. Because maybe there is a message in there for you too.

In the meantime, the next time you see a crow staring you down acting all tough - think of that vulnerable one stuck inside my back patio that I had to carry to freedom because he refused to be guided.