Afraid to Fly

Every summer, we get a nest of Carolina wrens in our garage. They are the cutest things with their feathers sticking straight up on their heads. The wren that hatched this year was the most fearful little guy I've seen yet.

He hung out in the garage for four days, hopping around and crying for mama, too scared to venture out on his own. His parents would actually bring him food and then fly up or scurry away with it still in their beaks, trying to get him to follow.

But he wouldn't. He would just sit there. Waiting. Wondering where his dinner was going.

At first, it seemed almost mean of the parents to not take care of their little one, but really, they were helping him become independent. To the fuzzy little wren, the outside world looked so scary. He wanted to stay in the comfort of the garage. But eventually, he spread his wings and took the leap.

Baby wren makes me think of two things:


(a) How often am I afraid to venture out into the world- to spread my wings and fly. The familiar seems so comforting and "safe."


(b) God is a lot like the adult wrens. When His ways seem harsh and unloving, He's really acting with our best interest in mind. We don't have the capacity as humans to always see the big picture. God does. He knows what He's doing, and He will never let us down.