Consider the Ravens

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you." Luke 12:22-31

They are everywhere here in Sitka. Ravens are everywhere. They can be quite beautiful in flight and very noisy when resting in the trees. They gather at the docks and chat their heads off, like loud teenagers at a burger joint. Sometimes comical and often picking at the trash, ravens are a part of life in Southeast Alaska, part of the sights and sounds of living here.

Jesus was teaching his disciples how to live a life of faith. They were to trust God for their needs and not to worry. I am sure that even his disciples privately questioned the possibility of never having to worry. We worry. We humans find ourselves up in the middle of the night worrying about the basics, about our families, etc. The list of our worries are endless. And yet, we are offered another vision of God. The silly noisy crows are taken care of, and so does God also take care of us. We are but to ask God for our needs, when worry overwhelms us, and trust God, who has more for us than we can imagine or dream.

Today, I ask God to help me notice the ravens. And with each raven may I be reminded of God's love and tender care for us. When we are overwhelmed with fears and worries, may we turn them to God. May we see our worries as an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God. May we consider the ravens, and trust that God is in the midst of our most troubling situations today.