During my morning walk, I noticed a mockingbird – small, gray, nothing impressive – chasing a crow out of the area of its nest. The crow was bigger, louder, and probably not even thinking about the mockingbird. But the mockingbird wasn’t having it. He knew that crow was trouble, so he went after it until the crow finally said, “Alright, alright, I’m out,” and took off.
And I thought: that’s what God’s love does in us. As we grow in Christ, we start noticing crows the world doesn’t even recognize as threats. Not because we’re trying to be super saints or impress anybody, but because the Spirit helps us see things more clearly. We just don’t want certain attitudes perching on the branches of our hearts anymore – they don’t fit who we’re becoming in Him.
There are crows of unlove, like jealousy, pride, and judging others. Crows of shame, fear, and doubt. Crows of discouragement and frustration. And the Spirit alerts us: “That doesn’t belong in your heart. Let’s chase it off.”
And that “Let’s” is important. Because just as the crow was bigger than the mockingbird, some crows are bigger than us. We don’t chase them away in our own strength or to be better than other people. We do it in partnership with the Spirit who is leading us deeper into the fullness of life that Christ died to give us.
Whatever crow tries to perch today, you and the Spirit can handle it. He’s right there saying, “Let’s.”
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