THE EASTER ROBIN
This is a story from my first book. It’s entitled “Wadda Ya Know, Preacher?” It is available from Amazon books along with my other book;“ ”And See All the People.”
THE EASTER ROBIN
I am probably too skeptical to be a preacher. I am wired to not believe in paranormal activity. I am dubious of claims made by people who say that Jesus appeared to them personally and visually. And while I think that miracles do happen, I think that they are rare.
So when something strange happens, I am hesitant to explain it as a divine intervention.
Easter morning in worship would seem like a good time for God to intervene directly. It is the Super Bowl of the church season. So when a robin flew into the unusually full sanctuary that Easter morning, I didn’t see it as any kind of sign. It was the result of an open window in some other part of the building. But the robin’s appearance did make for a memorable Easter.
At first the bird flew around the sanctuary. Children laughed with glee to see something “exciting” happen during worship. Women covered their heads with worship bulletins in case the bird had a message to “drop” on newly coiffed hair-dos. Some men tried to take charge and capture the terrified bird and get him back outside. Others sat stoically, believing that this was the only proper posture for worship.
As I began my sermon, I said one of the dumbest things in the history of my ministry. I said, “Pay no attention to that bird.” It was like the wizard telling Dorothy to pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
That is when the strange part kicked in. The bird sat on the chancel right in front of the pulpit. It sat perfectly still, looking up at me as if it was listening to the sermon.
I have to admit that the worshippers in the pews were not the only ones distracted. I tried to deliver my sermon. But I kept glancing down at this robin. Was this bird listening? Was it just exhausted from fleeing the clutches of the ushers? Was it checking the orthodoxy of my sermon?
It sat right there in front of me. Then as if on cue the sermon ended and the bird resumed its search for escape before it was time for the offering.
When the service ended, several men cornered the terrified bird, clutched it gently and got it to the door and released it into the wild to carry the gospel message to bird-kind.
I don’t think the robin was sent by God to teach us something. But lessons were learned anyway. Some in the congregation learned that it was OK to laugh. Some figured out that worship is not a performance. Some took away a reminder of why Easter is in the spring. Robins are a traditional sign of the newness of springtime. The deathlike grip of winter is ended and life reappears.
Whether this was an intentional sign or whether it was just a “teachable moment” for those who keep their spiritual antenna tuned, is a question that is above my pay grade. But I am glad it happened.
My belief is that there are “burning bushes” all around us. But we only see them if we are paying attention. I had a youth fellowship road rally in progress. The kids in my car were pretty competitive. (All right, I am too!) We were doing well when we turned a corner to find a woman flagging us down. She was panicked. Her husband was sitting the driver’s seat of the car. She informed us that he was having a heart attack and could we help her. Since these were the days before cell phones I sent one of the girls up to a house nearby to call an ambulance. I stayed with her until the medics arrived.
We finished the road rally dead last. The kids in the other cars were making fun of the “slow preacher’s car.” I had planned the Bible discussion that evening about making good choices. But instead we read the story of the Good Samaritan. An opportunity had presented itself to make that sad occurrence a teachable moment.
I don’t think God gave that man a heart attack just to teach us a lesson. I don’t believe that God sneaked the robin into the sanctuary that Easter. I do believe that God’s truth is conveyed in the circumstances of life. Our job is to notice and to learn.
