The random thoughts of a Christian parrot
We’ve got some good, hot, sunny weather at the moment. And it makes me feel good! After all, it’s usually hot and sunny where my ancestors came from in deepest Senegal.
And when I feel good, I show it to the world! I do lots of showy preening. My eyes have an extra sparkle. And I feel full of energy. In fact, when I feel this good about life, I can be very useful. This morning, I “strutted my stuff” along the top of a high, inaccessible cupboard that never gets properly dusted, and I was able to collect all of the cobwebs on my feathers.
And I’ve noticed that I am often a lot happier than many of the humans that I meet. Yes, they can smile and crack a joke, and pretend to be living life to the full, but behind this façade, they can be uncertain, anxious, insecure, and above all, very empty. These humans go through the motions of living, -using “happy moments” as islands that give them temporary respite in the sea of life. But life itself can be full of menace and threat, and if someone hasn’t discovered a real sense of purpose and meaning and understanding for their existence, then it can all become very overwhelming.
Photography: Pexels
At the same time, I come across humans that carry an extraordinary sense of peace and contentment in their hearts. And these humans stand out from the crowd. Because they are not living out their lives purely for the sake of living. These humans have discovered a real sense of purpose and meaning. Because over time, they have found a deep-rooted Christian faith. They know that their time here on Earth isn’t the be-all and end-all. It is simply a temporary phase. A mere blip when compared to the timelessness of eternity. And they know that through Jesus Christ, their long-term future is assured. It really doesn’t matter what trials and tribulations the world throws at them. These people have the assurance of something far more precious and meaningful than all of the “good things” in life put together. In fact, this is the story of the “haves” and “have nots.” And there’s a great irony here. Because so often, humans can think they have it all, when in fact they lack what really counts. Whereas people who have very little in worldly terms may well have discovered the one thing that really matters. Because humans can be immensely strong or powerful here on Earth. They might be successful in worldly terms, amassing wealth and fortune, fame and power, - only to discover that they are still restless and dissatisfied, -empty or afraid. They can’t bear to stop and reflect, because this makes them feel uncomfortable, so they end up living their lives at a frantic pace, chasing their own tails.
Meanwhile, “the haves” may not seem very much in worldly terms. Routine jobs. Poor wages. Just another statistic in the crowd. And yet they have the one thing that truly matters. The one thing that can irreversibly change their long-term outlook for the better. The one thing that can help them to ride out the worldly storms that come their way. Because they have learnt to believe and trust in both God and Jesus Christ. And so long as these humans don’t go astray, they will find themselves grasping hold of the ultimate “insurance policy.” An insurance policy that puts all human troubles into perspective, and enables them to see life in a totally different way. And this is exactly what Jesus is getting at, when in John 14:1-2, He says:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.”
In order to truly find Jesus, humans have to step outside their worldly perspective of all things, so that they can claim their “special room” in Heaven.
So, are you all feeling as happy as I am on this lovely sunny day? Think about what Jesus says in Luke 6:23:
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in Heaven.”
Photography: Pexels