Lean On Me

         

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/06/humans
-not-solely-blame-passenger-pigeon-extinction

  Passenger pigeons roosted in forested areas throughout North America in regions east of the Rocky Mountains, while their breeding range was primarily in the southern states.  Stories from years ago, about the pigeons roosting, sound almost like something from a horror movie!  It seems they traveled in great masses; so large in fact, in some towns when the scream of the birds arrived, the towns people would take cover, horses would bolt and children would scream in terror.  

Ultimately, these birds are now extinct. Although humans are not totally responsible for this, the pigeons are completely wiped out in part, from hunters for eating and from those who just didn’t like them; choosing to exterminate them in whatever way they could, including blowing up roosting and nesting areas, killing hundreds of birds at a time! 

We live in a country of incredible freedoms: speech, print, religion and other rights. Yet there are those who believe those freedoms are for a particular race or religion.  There are people in our world who choose to demoralize and demonize other people with their hate and vicious cruelty just because they are different from what their twisted minds see as right. 

 God has a grand design we can’t recognize because we can’t see the whole picture. He created all people and loves everyone.  That doesn’t mean He approves of bad behavior that goes against the teachings found in His Word; and there are consequences when we do! Easter just passed as we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection.  He went to the cross, died and rose again as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins so we can have a life of eternal glory.  

Just like the pigeons that met together in such mass and strength, the sturdy limb on the tree would break, we need to join forces as believers who will not succumb to those who would do others harm because they are different.  Our traditions and culture is what makes us unique.  It’s the blend of all this diversity that make our world and workplace such a wonderful place to belong.

It doesn’t mean we will always be safe.  These pigeons once traveled by the thousands from area to area and ironically created a setting that left them vulnerable and ultimately set the stage for hunting that caused the birds to now be extinct.

God gave each person a unique responsibility and purpose in this life.  As believers we have a distinct duty to follow in God’s footsteps as discharged by Him.  Jesus was a strong force that changed our world, but he came as a servant and wants us to use courage, vision and faith to move forward. 

We are to be committed to making a difference in an imperfect world that has turned ugly and mean.  But we need to stand tall and strong, dedicated to service, while leaning on the Rock of our faith, listening for His guidance and then willing to go out into a world that does not always accept us.  It is His message.  Are you willing?