This Week.

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? … But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-26, 33-34

During the shutdown, my neighbor hung a bird feeder. There was the initial frustration of squirrels raiding the feeder, but after trying out some tricks the squirrels were deterred. That meant that we got to spend the summer watching the familiar cardinals and brown thrashers at the feeders, as well as new additions of house finches, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and other small birds.

At some point, my neighbor said she was worried that the birds were becoming dependent on the feeder and maybe her feeding them was affecting their ability to forage for food. I laughed a bit and said that I didn’t think that was how birds worked.

Do not worry. Jesus points to the birds and their reliance on God to provide for them to demonstrate why we shouldn’t worry. Birds don’t have to worry as long as they are being birds–eating at feeders, building nests, flying. Jesus’ call to us to not worry is a call to be who we are created to be–made in God’s image, beloved, and faithful. I don’t think Jesus expects that we will just stop worrying, but he does call for us to not get so caught up in worrying that we lose sight of God. When our priorities are in order–striving first for the Kingdom of God–we can stay focus on what matters.

What are you worrying about? What can you do today to stay focused and not let worry overtake you?

This week’s schedule is below. BSC folks take note that we are moving to Yielding Chapel for our Tuesday worship. I hope to see you soon on campus or at Trinity Commons.

-Kelley

SCHEDULE