The song of a bluebird, an unlikely friend in praise

My song rang out loud and clear as I walked along the dirt road rambling across the mountain ridge. Sunlight warmed my shoulders. Praise warmed my heart. As I sang, I noticed the song of a bluebird, an unlikely friend on my walk, perched on a limb of the oak butted up against the road. I stopped to admire him.

When I stopped singing, he stopped singing. When I sang a note, he sang a note.

An Unlikely Friend

With my eye on the bluebird, I began walking again. The tiny ball of royal blue flew to the next tree beside the road, singing his heart out … as long as I sang. It was a perfect duet of praise.

When I walked, he flew to the next branch and waited. When I sang, he sang. We moved down the road in unison, this fine friend and me. Although very different from one another, the praise in our hearts united us — the joy of song, the love of our Creator …

… the appreciation of what each of us brought to the mountain landscape.

If only life could be that simple — this disparity of races and political parties, the resulting injustices and misunderstandings and raging hatred born of deep, deep wounds …

If only.

Unlikely friends

The bluebird always reminds me of the dwelling place of Almighty God. The bluebird’s color is the same as the thread God commanded the children of Israel to use for the fabrics of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, along with scarlet and purple. Why blue? To remind the people of celestial skies, to look up to the heavenly places to behold the One True God.

The One True God, Maker of heaven and earth who does all things well.

The God who loves us with an everlasting love, whose heart must break over the work of the enemy that divides, deceives, and discourages His people.

And, ultimately, the bluebird reminds me of Jesus, who Himself is our peace.

The cross. Redemption’s story

“For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in Himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of His death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.” ~ Ephesians 2:14-16, NLT

Jews and Gentiles. Blacks and whites. Republicans and Democrats.

Effectively, the cross became God’s means to destroy the hostility and separation once and for all … between all people groups. 

The Cross. Redemption’s story.

Jesus Himself is our peace

Jesus.

He, Himself, is our peace — He who leads us to the throne of grace to receive mercy, wisdom, healing, and understanding with one another, to remind us that we are all children of God and loved by a good, good Father.

We are all equal at the foot of the Cross.

His love joins our hearts.

His peace takes down the great barrier of hatred and hostility dividing us so we may be one, friend to friend.

Enjoying a new friend because of Jesus

The bluebird and I continued on our way, different yet joined — friends — because of the gift of praise and the knowledge of the One we love. If only people of all colors and political persuasions could learn to do the same. Praise lifts us into the presence of the Almighty, changing our focus to see Him, to hear His gentle whispers.

And praise joins our hearts as one, breaking the barriers that wound and deceive, introducing a new friend in unlikely places.

Selah

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Thank you so much for stopping by. I would love for you to share what’s on your heart in the comments below. Scroll a little farther down and you’ll see where you can leave your comments. Together, we can find the nearness of God in our darkest moments.

Sweet blessings to you,