God in the Galahs

I was driving home when I saw them. A flock of galahs crowding a pine tree. (A flock of galahs is also known as a pandemonium; how cool is that?) There certainly was a lot of chattering and flapping going on in the tree that day.

The sight not only lifted my spirits, it reminded me of that verse in the bible where Jesus talks about the birds, and how our loving Father, who knows even better than ourselves what we need, provides for the earth and for us:

‘Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.’ (Matthew 6:26 MSG)

Those galahs were free in that pine tree, ‘careless in the care of God.’ I love how God knows every bird on the planet—and cares for us even more!

Jesus doesn’t stop there. He goes on, driving his point home:

‘What I’m trying to get you to do is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.’ (Matthew 6:31-34)

There is so much we could unpack there, but what stands out to me is God’s heart of generosity toward us. He doesn’t care for us begrudgingly, like a resentful, burned-out parent, but as someone eager to provide for us. He wants to meet our needs. He also wants us to live fully immersed in him, free of worry, complete and whole in his love.

That’s the main way we get our needs met: by steeping ourselves in his love. Not that material things don’t matter, but that they tend to follow when our lives are immersed in him. That’s how we seek first the kingdom. In the end, everything comes back to love. His love.

This kind of love can cast out fear. This kind of love can take us out of our mental worries and ruminations. This kind of love can change how we live, giving way to gratitude, compassion and an eternal perspective. God’s love changes everything.

Funny how a pandemonium of parrots can remind us of that.

Has nature ever reminded you of God’s love? What difference would it make for you to live ‘careless in the care of God’? How can you ‘steep your life in God-reality’ today? Share your story. Let’s have a countercultural conversation.