Every time I drive down 400, I pass under a section of wires that are filled with birds. It’s happened so often that I wondered why birds gather that way. I started reading articles from avian researchers to find the answers.
Bill Saidel, a Rutgers University-Camden biology professor, led a group of researchers to find out why birds do this. They discovered that birds gather for social reasons and are attracted to birds of the same species. They also found that birds seek safety from predators there and often find their mates there as well. Plus, sitting on the wire allows them a good view of fields when looking for food. They also found that that the birds were “basically waiting for an event to happen and the event might be something as simple as sunset.”
Mark LaBarr, a wildlife biologist and conservation program manager with Audubon Vermont, adds addition information about the habit. He explains that some species of birds gather on wires for a “pre-migratory get-together.” That means the wires become the staging area where birds gather before they migrate south for the winter.
The more reading I’ve done, the more the habits of the birds on a wire have reminded me of the habits of the church. We gather to with people with the same heritage as heirs on God’s kingdom. We gather for safety and protection in the face of evil. We gather for the united strength to stand against it. And, we gather as a staging area as we go out into the world as God’s people.
We, as the church, gather to be with people of like-minds––those having the mind of Christ––just as Paul described in Philippians. Paul wrote, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (Phil. 2:1-2, ESV) We the church are a human example of “birds on a wire.”
Margie’s latest devotional book, 8 Days in Jerusalem, is available for Lent through amazon.com and christainbooks.com.
