Consider the Ravens

Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 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 can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry 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 clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:22-31 

One of the many things I miss about living on an island in Southeast Alaska are the ravens. They were everywhere, every present and very loud at times. They often communicated their displeasure at us humans. They would work together to open poorly closed trash cans and found our  church's weekly delivery of organic goods very tempting. Unless we covered the boxes, they would find a hole in a box and get to work. They also were the icon of life in Southeast - feisty, clever, cooperative and persistent. I can never hear of ravens without thinking of the ravens in Sitka and their influence on us all.

Today we hear Jesus tell us not to worry. Like the ravens, we have been given the tools for survival and company to help us through all our challenges. Like the ravens, the Creator of all watches us carefully, tending and providing, despite our squawking and fussing. God has promised that we are more than ravens, beloved children of a living, involved Creator. It is human to worry and it is the Divine gift that we are tenderly cared for moment by moment.

Today I ask God to take all my worries and comfort my anxious heart. May we all, who have face trial and tribulation, know that there are answers coming and our needs will be fulfilled. May we let go of all our worries and give them to God who loves us beyond all human measure.