On Friday night Tim and I went to a concert by a Scottish folk-singer, Karine Polwart. She was very good, even though I listened to more than I saw, and Tim seems to have heard a couple more songs than I heard - curses jet lag!!!!
Anyway, the final song she sang came with an introductory story and it was about a contest way back when between all the birds to find out which bird was king of all.
The story goes that the birds were all arguing over who should be king, and eventually it was decided to hold a contest, and the winner would take the crown. The contest was to see which bird could fly the highest, and the one that flew higher than all others would be the winner.
So, the birds all set off flying upwards - first to give up were the pheasants and partridges, but the others flew on. Next to fall away were some of the littler birds who just didn't have the strength to keep climbing. Gradually more and more birds dropped off the climb, as the remaining ones flew higher and higher.
Eventually there was just one bird left - the eagle. Certain that he had won, he decided to keep going until he reached his limit - just showing off really! And as he got to the top, and could go no further, he turned to descend to the expected applause of all, and his moment of crowning glory.
But, at that point, as he reached his limit, and turned to descend, a little head popped out from the feathers of the eagle and started flying upwards! It was the wren, one of the smallest of birds, who had hitched a ride on the eagle's back, and was now able to fly higher than the eagle.
The eagle returned to the earth, in second place. The wren, returned moments later, having gone higher than any other bird, and claimed the crown as king of the birds!
Such a lovely story of how little people can triumph, and how it isn't all about might and strength and power. It made me think of the CRED partners we support, and the people I've been with these past few weeks. None of them are big players in the international scene, none of them have lots of power and influence, but what they do have is quiet determination to make a difference in the lives of those they are wanting to help. And what they also have is the greatest source of strength that they could possibly hitch a ride with: their Christian faith, and their trust in the one true God.
Each of the projects has grown out of a calling placed on the founders, and the project staff, by God. And each of the projects lives each day dedicated to following that calling, and following what they believe God is asking them to do.
Being with those projects, it is abundantly clear that God is right in there, and that all the staff need to do is hitch a ride on Him, and He will give them the strength to climb as high as is needed. And that is what they do, and that is what He gives them.
May you be blessed as you hitch a ride to the greatest source of strength of all, and draw on Him today.
Anyway, the final song she sang came with an introductory story and it was about a contest way back when between all the birds to find out which bird was king of all.
The story goes that the birds were all arguing over who should be king, and eventually it was decided to hold a contest, and the winner would take the crown. The contest was to see which bird could fly the highest, and the one that flew higher than all others would be the winner.
So, the birds all set off flying upwards - first to give up were the pheasants and partridges, but the others flew on. Next to fall away were some of the littler birds who just didn't have the strength to keep climbing. Gradually more and more birds dropped off the climb, as the remaining ones flew higher and higher.
Eventually there was just one bird left - the eagle. Certain that he had won, he decided to keep going until he reached his limit - just showing off really! And as he got to the top, and could go no further, he turned to descend to the expected applause of all, and his moment of crowning glory.
But, at that point, as he reached his limit, and turned to descend, a little head popped out from the feathers of the eagle and started flying upwards! It was the wren, one of the smallest of birds, who had hitched a ride on the eagle's back, and was now able to fly higher than the eagle.
The eagle returned to the earth, in second place. The wren, returned moments later, having gone higher than any other bird, and claimed the crown as king of the birds!
Such a lovely story of how little people can triumph, and how it isn't all about might and strength and power. It made me think of the CRED partners we support, and the people I've been with these past few weeks. None of them are big players in the international scene, none of them have lots of power and influence, but what they do have is quiet determination to make a difference in the lives of those they are wanting to help. And what they also have is the greatest source of strength that they could possibly hitch a ride with: their Christian faith, and their trust in the one true God.
Each of the projects has grown out of a calling placed on the founders, and the project staff, by God. And each of the projects lives each day dedicated to following that calling, and following what they believe God is asking them to do.
Being with those projects, it is abundantly clear that God is right in there, and that all the staff need to do is hitch a ride on Him, and He will give them the strength to climb as high as is needed. And that is what they do, and that is what He gives them.
May you be blessed as you hitch a ride to the greatest source of strength of all, and draw on Him today.
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