Rooks

Hello readers! It’s been a while. I’ve been convincing myself to stop writing this blog and call it a day. I’ve told myself that no-one would notice or miss it, which may well be true, but the fact of the matter is that I have missed it in some ways. When I used to write something twice or three times a week, I benefitted greatly in a personal way. So here I am … going to share my complaints about Rooks! 😠 🤦‍♀️

I think they are rooks at least, rather than crows, although I find it hard to tell them apart. Whichever they are they are immensely annoying right now.

To say I must look like some frantic maniac at the window may be an understatement if you ask my children! I would be too embarrassed to count the amount of times during one day that I rush up to the kitchen window, flailing my arms around and bashing, likely to put the wooden spoon through the window itself. 

These large birds just keep returning to hang off the feeders meant for the smaller species. There were 2 which would make their appearances at the back of the house and once scared off by this crazy human, would simply fly to the front of the house to access the feeders hanging from the apple trees! 🙄 Oversized pigeons would join them to make my infuriation levels reach fever point. To add insult to injury, there are now four of the dastardly birds … as though they’ve recruited reinforcements. 

1 Kings 17v2-6. God specifically chose the ravens (pretty much like the rook) to feed Elijah morning and evening with bread and meat during the time he hid in a ravine east of the Jordan river. Now why did God do that? Why didn’t he choose the mighty Eagle? Who knows. Maybe it was simply to acknowledge the fact that despite appearances and manners, everything God created has a purpose and is precious to Him. Maybe it was so that you and I are reminded of this fact every time we shoo away a rook!

God’s ways are higher and greater than ours. He values the ravens and the rooks. He takes note of every fallen sparrow (whom I much prefer seeing in my garden). He wishes us to mount up with wings like eagles. His creation is diverse and beautiful.

The rooks in my garden are more than likely just trying to feed themselves and in time, their young. My preference is for the smaller garden birds yet these cumbersome greedy black birds once took food to a prophet hiding by a river as directed by their creator. Amazing! It’s sort of beyond my comprehension to fully grasp that if God asked one of the birds in my garden to do something specific or go about a task, that they would have no choice but to fulfill it and obey. 

It’s a lesson I need to learn over and over, in fact more than one lesson … 

The first part is to not be judgmental based on appearances. In certain settings it could well be me who’s perceived as the rook! 

Secondly, to appreciate that everyone has a role to play and is of immense value to God no matter how I may feel or react. My annoyance could well be misplaced with the appearance of something masking the purpose beneath. 

Thirdly, no matter what we’re asked to do by God, the only sensible and wise thing to do is to obey.

I muse upon the fact that many lessons can be learnt from a garden. Mindfully spend time with nature and learn from her many profound yet simple instructions. You will grow wiser and nicer too! 😊

Ingrid x