There was a bird in the nave of the church today. It remains unknown how it got in, but it had been there since Saturday morning. Windows and doors were opened to give it a chance to fly out, but it never flew low enough to figure out that escape was available. Instinct tells a bird to fly high and thats what it did, from stained glass window to light fixture to organ pipe, back and forth seeking a way out. It really was quite frantic, but no more frantic than I myself. I have a phobia of birds and this no doubt terrified black bird terrifed me.
I knew the winged creature was there yesterday as I was at church in the morning to prepare for the service as part of the Altar Guild. It was bad enough yesterday when my secret fear was blantantly revealed to the woman who I worked with, and the rector, but today the entire choir and a few others as well found out about this oddity of mine. I was quite embarrased, but I was more afraid, and ducked any time the bird came anywhere near the choir loft. I’m sure if that if it had not been my Altar Guild weekend and if there had been more sopranos present today, that I simply would have given up and left upon learning that the bird was still in residence…but my sense of responsibility won out over my desire to hide from the bird and hide my fear from the people around me. What must they think, I wonder? What a weirdo. Ah yes, that’s me!
Just before we were to sing the anthem, the bird flew into a particular place in the organ piping that has slats that can be closed and opened to adjust the volume of the music. The organist closed the slats and the bird was confined at last, to my great relief. I’ve always really liked our organist/choir director but she had suddenly become my hero! Thinking that more than just I would be relieved to some extent, the organist announced before we sang that the bird was now confined; no details were given. Not everyone felt relief at this turn of events though. One couple walked out of the service, irate that no action was taken when the woman loudly called out for the bird to be released at once.
I am humbled that my secret fear is no longer a secret. Anyone who said anything was supportive of course. The women beside me promised to protect me and another woman prayed for me. I was quite touched. I don’t know what the guys sitting behind me thought, but what does it matter? I shouldn’t care, but I do, at least a little. For all I know, God sent the bird because I needed a dose of humility, and I am more precious to Him and/or Her than even the bird. Ohh, now there’s a really humbling thought.
Prayer——-God, thank you for the bird, and have mercy on it should it still be breathing. Calm, I pray, anyone who was upset by it’s confinement. Grant wisdom to our dear rector as he deals with any repercussions of the incident. Help me to further embrace humility, and God, bless us all. AMEN.
