HOPE

Mrs. Robin in going to try again.  Maybe it isn't the same Mrs. Robin.  Maybe it is.  The faith that it takes to start building this nest, four feet off the ground right next to our back stairs.... WOW!  Now, that is faith.  Some might call it instinct.  Perhaps faith is instinctive. 

If a mother robin can have that much faith, then surely I can have enough faith to know that the closing of Grace Church is not an end.  It can surely be the beginning of a new nesting in some other place.  In fact there will be multiple nesting places for the people who will be temporily without a church home. We will not all choose to go to the same new place.  We have different needs and different experiences.  What we have learned at Grace we will take with us and be changed yet again and change those with whom we join.

Maybe this is a good time for a church to be closing its doors.  It is spring.  There is that hopeful promise of all things new.  We have been enriched in this place.  We have learned more than we can ever pass on.  We have experienced resurrection and we will now follow Christ into the world to do what God would have us do.  We are equipped.  We are ready. 

OOPS!!!

 

It was a perfect day in Connecticut.  For church, for yard work, for pruning of the overgrown Japanese Holly that resides next to our back steps.  As you can see I am only two thirds of the way finished because I ran into this: 

A VERY big oops.  It looks like kind of an old nest -- very weathered and grey, no new stuff in it.  Like maybe it has been there for a few seasons.  The three blue robin eggs inside, however, cannot be old.  I am feeling pretty awful.  Like having invaded someone's most intimate, personal space. 

I left off the pruning and went away from the nest out further into the yard to do other work.  I worked until tired and then retired to the deck for a beer and my book.  I was aware of birds NOT being around.  I sat there for a while recouping my energy and, finally, w a y  out back a robin started flitting around in and out amongst the branches.  Did not come anywhere near the deck, however.

We are inside now.  Perhaps they will feel a little more secure as time goes on.  Maybe not ...