Issue #1166 – Waxwing Christians – June 1, 2023

When we lived in Alberta, a pretty bird, the Bohemian Waxwing, often visited our yard. In the Spring, they would gather into flocks, sometimes numbering into the thousands.

The Bohemian (and its cousin, the Cedar Waxwing) feed on insects and berries. The Mountain ash, or rowan berry, is one of its favourites. Several of our neighbours had rowanberry trees, so the waxwings would stay close in the Spring.

The birds would appear, filling the air while swooping barely above the roofline and landing in the big poplar trees. There were often so many waxwings that they made the tree look fully leafed out.

As the vast flock twittered in the tree, hundreds would spontaneously explode from rest and head to the mountain ash. They would sit feeding on the berries for a few moments and just as suddenly arise as a group and head back to the poplar tree. While they were en route to the poplar, the next shift was headed towards the mountain ash.

The sky would be constantly filled with waxwings moving to the mountain ash and returning to the poplar. Without warning, they would all return to the poplar and sit. Just as suddenly, they would start the process over but move to the next rowanberry. This cycle would recur then; they were off to another neighbourhood as quickly as they arrived.

I was never able to figure out what caused the movements. There were always plenty of berries left in the tree, so it wasn’t a lack of food that caused them to move on.

I have read that a waxwings stomach can only hold six to eight berries, but they must be refilled every fifteen minutes. That might explain the eating in shifts, but why the sudden change in neighbourhoods.

I don’t have an answer. It is as if the next neighbourhood suddenly is more attractive, and where they are is dull. The herd mentality (or, more appropriately, in this case, the flock mentality) just seems to kick in, and they move on.

I’ve noticed that sometimes as Christians, we can behave like waxwings. A new church growth formula or program comes on the horizon, or a fresh “outbreak” of the Spirit comes along, and we rush to embrace it. We feed there for a while and suddenly run to try the next new thing.

I am not opposed to new programs or formulas. I’m certainly not averse to seeing the Spirit at work. In fact, I strongly advocate every Christian periodically visit another congregation or fellowship to stay fresh and see what is happening in the larger body. We can learn much from new ideas and fresh approaches that will help strengthen us in our faith walk or ministry.

The problem is that many Christians spend so much time flitting, learning and experiencing that they never practice what they have learned. We also need to be vigilant that the newest, latest whiz-bang program or method aligns with Scripture and our community’s needs. Many teachers have devised new ways to reach their community that are not transferrable to our own communities. Some teachers are more interested in lining their pockets than serving the kingdom. We need to be discerning.

We need to study, pray, serve, and grow to discern truth from error. We must anchor in our home bases but remain open to new ideas.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:11-16

May we all mature in our faith to learn that newer isn’t always better, the popular isn’t always the best, and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. 

May we stop flitting and get anchored in Christ in our home churches.

May we be refreshed by new thoughts and ideas but remain grounded in the truth.

Be Blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

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