Once I had a neighbor who every fall stretched a line on a pulley from a tree near his house to the frame of the window of his study. At first he hung a bird feeder near the tree, and gradually, over a few weeks, pulled the feeder closer and closer to the window. “The birds don’t seem to notice”, he said, “and eventually I can sit quietly here in my chair, or at my desk and watch them up close.” I saw that it worked, as the feeder was quite busy and already near the house.

I will walk among you, and be your God, and you will be my people.” (Lev. 26:12)

My neighbor wanted nothing more than to enjoy the lives of the birds in a small way, to observe them and have them near him every day. Our God, on the other hand, desires to enter into the lives of His people, to”walk among” us and to be in conscious relationship with us.

The Lord, like my neighbor, is patient. He is willing to wait a short or long time before we find Him to be a welcome companion, even a Friend, and ultimately a Brother. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you Friends, for everything I learned from my father I have made known to you. (John 15:15).

The attraction of the birds was irresistible to my neighbor. Our lives, too , are irresistible to our God. My neighbor built a line to his house so that he could enjoy the birds more. God has sent a line out to us in His son, who would “gather us in” if we let him: . . . how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you are not willing. (Luke 13:34)

Some birds came to the feeder only as long as it was half way to the house, while others were emboldened to come all the way to the window. The birds were not mindful of a presence desiring to be close to them and drawing them nearer. They did not “know their master’s business”; but we can experience our God and even know His motive: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jer. 31:3).

Love in Him,

Prue