Just Call Me Auntie Grackle
The reduced number of social interactions lately has provided me with some extra time to spend sprucing up the yard and garden, unearthing some buried paving stones along with Bermuda grass stems and rhizomes. This has netted some interesting bird-watching opportunities.
From the window over the desk in our “library,” I have observed a female grackle busily engaged collecting nest-building materials. She doesn’t take just any bits of dead grass and fibers; she is a discriminating consumer. I have watched her pick up and put down strands of uprooted grass four or five times before she settles on the one she wants. Then she takes off with the treasure in her beak and flies into a gap near the top of a neighbor’s tree. Most often, a big black male will come and perch nearby on an upper branch, observing the process and declaring the territory to be his.
I have seen this happen every morning for at least a week. I don’t know what the lady grackle is looking for in terms of length or strength, but she often tests the piece, putting her foot on it while she holds it in her beak. Who knew these common birds were so discriminating?
As fascinating as this has been, the most intriguing event has been something that reminded me of the discipling process.
A larger female grackle has been in occasional attendance up in the tree, with no sense of threat or competition; a few times I have seen her in our yard as well, exposing clusters of leaves and grass in the sight of the smaller nest-builder, and then stepping back from the unearthed treasure, so the smaller bird could take what she might need from it. It seems that nest-building may be a learned skill, with older, wiser birds helping the less experienced ones succeed. Auntie Grackles, if you will.
I see myself as one of those Aunties. Not that I am the expert! Heaven help us! I just have a few more miles on me than some of you, have made some more mistakes, have fallen down a few more times and been picked up by Jesus a few more times. One of my hopes is that I can encourage you by unearthing a few things you might need to build your “nest” as you are following Jesus every day in the everyday.
Just call me Auntie Grackle, A.K.A.,
Christi
P.S. Lately I am having fun with sourdough starter, apple vinegar, kefir water, and seed starting! You can follow me on Instagram @dishwater_disciple for almost-daily BrightSpots to encourage you during these challenging days.
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