Go to the ant thou sluggard; ...

 

September 2021 - Shepherd's Gutter, Furzley Lane

Introduction

The Bible encourages us to work hard, to plan ahead, to save against future lean times. It’s all true but like much of Scripture it holds its truth in a tension with opposing truths.

We are also told to give away, to be generous, to not worry about tomorrow. The man who was so pleased when he diligently filled all his barns was told ““You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12.20). We’re told to hold possessions lightly so that “when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing”.

When Martha complained about Mary skipping household duties to feed her soul on the words of Jesus, she was told “you’re worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the better part.”

We need help untangling these tensions. The creation around us is full of that help.

Today our teacher is a bird that is more intelligent than most primates, can equal human toddler in some tasks and vastly exceed adult humans in others (like flying...).

True or false?

1. Jays understand the concept of food product “Use by Dates”.

2. Jays can tell the difference between a dead caterpillar and a twig of the same size and shape.

3. Jays store food near particular flowers – gorse and wild roses being favourites.

4. Over a million jays a year are killed across Europe as part of deliberate culling.

5. While some birds have dust baths, Jays like to bathe in living ants.

6. Jays can learn new tricks by watching the behaviour of other jays.

7. Humans are more susceptible to magic tricks than Jays

Jays are appear to combine the best of hardworking diligence and “planning for the future” with the best of unselfconscious generosity, a benevolence of anonymous abundance from which others benefit without ever knowing the source.

What does that mean for us?

How can we be unselfconsciously benevolent? How we can we turn storing and hoarding behaviour into blessings for others?

Find an oak tree. Enjoy it. Consider its history. Think about the Jay that might have planted it. Imagine what a great memorial that might be. Think about how you can be more Jay-like.