Articles/Bulletins
Nuthatch
R E F L E C T I O N S
Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith - 3/28/22
"Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of
his praise be heard, who has kept our soul
among the living and has not let our feet slip."
- Ps. 66:8-9
The nuthatch is a common but fascinating bird. I photographed this one posing in an unusual position for a nuthatch - it was right side up. The usual position for a nuthatch is upside down. These birds usually land toward the top of a tree and work their way head-first down the tree looking for insects under the bark. What enables them to do this while maintaining their hold on the tree is their feet which are uncommonly large for their body size and equipped with claws which extend both forward and backward. Hanging upside down is no problem for these guys. They seldom slip. Humans, however, tend to slip often, sometimes with disastrous results. The Bible is replete with warnings against falling. Do Christians slip and sometimes fall? They most assuredly do. But not as often or as far as most others. And why not? While it might be tempting to pride ourselves on our ability to not slip, the truth is that what is saving us is not our hold on God, but his hold on us. If left to ourselves, in our own strength, we all would fall and fall beyond recovery. It is God who brings us to himself, and it is God who keeps our feet from slipping once we are there. Salvation is of the Lord, and so is our security. So if you are feeling puffed up about your grasp on God, remember who is holding whom. A nuthatch may take pride in having feet which never slip, but our pride should be in the One who holds us and does not let our feet slip. Misplaced pride will always lead to a fall. If you feel compelled to boast in someone, boast in the the Lord. We stand firm only because we are held firmly. Give praise to the One who deserves praise. - John
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