Put my beach chair out in the ocean this morning, letting the waves grab my feet, trying to drag me out to deeper water. The large brown pelicans were on shore patrol, flying low over the ocean like B-52 bombers, dropping into the waves, disguising themselves as tugboats, bobbing up and down like toys on the waves. They were on shark patrol. I was on dolphin patrol, watching the fins to be sure they were dolphins.

I’m trying to decide if I want to be a shorebird or a songbird and contemplating death by shark or cat. Tiger sharks love to eat albatrosses and songbirds, specially sparrows and doves. Shorebirds live by the water, usually have long legs, bills for foraging in sand and mud. Some shorebirds dive in the ocean for food, some eat small crustaceans. We find our songbirds in forests and grasslands, wetlands and in our yards. They consume insects and fruit and seeds and nectar. Shorebirds feet are adapted for water and songbird feet are acclimated for perching on branches. Songbirds have glorious symphonies and songs. Shorebirds make their music through their complex songs and calls when flying. Some of them communicate through bill snaps. Going to ponder awhile before I choose which bird I want to be.

I think we can make a metaphor of God and the shorebirds. The shorebirds face danger and storms and so do we. Scripture in Psalm 91:4 tells us “God covers his people with his feathers” and protects us when life is stormy. God provides for us just as the shorebirds forage along the shore. Migrating shorebirds symbolize the endurance and faithfulness of God’s love. Shorebirds live through the connection of land and water. Jesus teachings focus on connecting the Kingdom of God to us and our earth. Matthew 6:26 states, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Birds are living testaments to God’s grace for those who belief in him. The beautiful little songbirds are metaphors for God, too. Songbirds trust God to provide for them, guided on their flights in the heavens through their instincts, a gift from their creator. Scripture tells us to have a similar trust as we are empowered by our faith in God. God guides and enables those who follow his teachings. Job 39:26-30 states, “Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread its wings toward the south? Does the eagle soar at your command and build its nest on high?”

Birds are used in Bible scripture to teach us that God cares and provides for all his creatures. “The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.” Rabindranath. We should all pray for wings of faith.

“No human ever lived in a birdless world.” — Richard Smyth