The squirrel continued to speedily devour the
sunflower seeds despite the attack mounted against him by the half dozen or so
blackbirds that had also come to feed that morning. They desperately wanted him
to leave so they could have their turn on the 12x24-inch board onto which I’d
poured about a quart of seeds.
Though the squirrel seemed oblivious to them, they launched an intensive
offensive against him. Some positioned themselves a safe distance away at the
opposite end of the board and shrieked at him. They also showed their aggression
by pecking at him and extending their wings. Despite their best efforts, the
squirrel paid them absolutely no attention. His little body did not stiffen even
once during the encounter that lasted several minutes.
In desperation, some of the blackbirds flew around and landed on the deck rail
behind the squirrel. They took turns sneaking over to the board and snitching
one sunflower seed at a time. Yet, the squirrel paid no attention to them. He
merely kept on munching. Some of the hungry blackbirds flew to the floor of the
deck in order to retrieve a few of the fallen seeds. Finally, all the blackbirds
gave up and flew away. The squirrel didn’t seem to notice that his attackers had
gone.
Once the squirrel had eaten his fill, he scampered down the steps. His leaving
served as a green light for the birds waiting in a nearby persimmon tree.
Cardinals, doves, blue jays, and sparrows all wanted to feed at once since the
squirrel’s presence had deterred them from feeding earlier.
I watched as the birds exhibited their customary pecking order. When certain
birds arrived, all the others felt compelled to leave. After the birds of higher
rank left, then those of lesser rank returned.
The scene was familiar to me since I see it enacted several times each day. As
usual, I shook my head over their selfishness and their lack of ability to get
along and to share with others, even with those of their own kind.
As I watched them fighting over the seeds my husband and I generously and
faithfully provide for them, a Scripture passage came to my mind. I realized
that the author of the words must have been as incredulous as I over
manifestations of greed and selfishness—among people rather than birds.
Those who adhered more to the teachings of Apollos felt that they were in the
superior group, while those who favored Paul felt that they had the better
leader/teacher. Each group, both so recently rescued from paganism, felt they
were more spiritual, more enlightened, than the members in the other group.
To address that issue, Paul penned penetrating questions applicable not only to
that situation but also to the drama enacted daily on my deck, as well as to
attitudes of people world-wide. “What makes you better than anyone else? What do
you have that God has not given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast
as though you have accomplished something on your own?” (1 Corinthians 4:7, New
Living Translation).
Why, indeed? That question demands an answer from all people—and from the birds,
as well.
©2008 Johnnie Ann Gaskill
jgaskill@charter.net
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