Five minute Friday word prompt ‘View’ although I must confess it has become 30 minute Monday…

Phil, Emily and Jessica went to see Mumford and Sons in concert on Friday. The biggest headlining gig they’ve ever played with 25,000 gathered in Holland Park in Surrey, BC. Besides the one guy waving his lighter in the air, iPods and iPhones were held high, capturing the moments.

There’s nothing like playing back a concert on your Apple device is there? Reminding yourself how much fun you had recording the concert of that artist you love enough to pay money to see live. I speak from experience having recording a good amount of Coldplay last year. Have I watched back the footage? *cough*

A great view!

Bella enjoyed her first ballet show this weekend. Creators Arts Centre put on an awesome show ‘A Time to Dance’ leading us through a journey of time – from birth to death, from spring to winter, from morning to night.

Bella has to win the smiliest dancer award.

My view. There are two cherry trees outside my bedroom window. Established, strong, currently producing tiny green cherries, soon enough we’ll be harvesting the red beauties. Hard to believe just a few months ago the tree was pruned to what I thought was its death.

Pruning has a way of making you believe that.

Our tree house sits in the cherry tree and few weeks ago a friendly robin decided it liked the look of it, so with a delusion of grandeur decided to set up home.

‘Look at the birds of the air’ Jesus said.

I had this lovely idea that I would capture the next few weeks of robin nesting. The first two weeks were great Spring-watch activity with Bella and Josiah creeping up to watch the progress.

I think we’ll stop at 4. 

But now those babes are born.

Proud parents. 

When I go anyway near, they swoop, they squawk and they dive bomb.

My yard is not a safe place to be right now.

Forget Mamma Bear…Mamma Bird is out there.

I see provision. I see protection. I see care. I see God.

 And finally…

I asked my friend John, what do Jesus words ‘look at the birds of the air’ mean to you?

His view. John’s physical view is a parking lot. The view from his van where he lives might not be one that he’d choose, but as he acknowledged, it’s a roof over his head.

John grew up with 24 people in his home including 8 brothers and 11 foster kids.

John was a wealthy businessman, married, generous.

When his wife left, his business continued to prosper for a while. Then his life hit a dark time and for 18 years he became drug and alcohol dependant. He almost lost his life 7 times, and as he lay in a hospital bed yet again. A friend walked in and said some simple words ‘this is your last chance.’

John heard these words and they hit him. His spiritual ears heard them, but more than that he realised the love of his heavenly Father.

John had watched his Mom get up at 5am everyday to pray in the daily bread, he would often see people arrive with 15 chickens or sacks of potatoes. This lifestyle is now one that he lives, he believes that God is teaching him continually about faith.

He describes looking at a $80k car, knowing that once upon a time he could afford it.

And at that moment he looked down and in the snow was $5, just what he needed right then. He tells many stories of daily bread.

‘Look at the birds of the air’ Jesus said. I’m sure when John looks at the birds from his van.

Those words fly.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life.

Matthew 6:25

What a freeing truth this heart attitude is, as the message puts it let’s become ‘careless in the cares of God’.

Seems like a good week for bird watching!

Love, Michelle xoxo

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A bird ballet | Music Video from Neels CASTILLON on Vimeo.