Decker the Bird

This morning my son came running into the house. He was yelling, "There's birds hatching under the deck and there's no mama to take care of them!" The reason he assumed there was no mother is probably because just a few days ago we "discovered" a nest of rabbits as we were burning the weeds off our garden in preparation for tilling. (Maybe I'll tell that story another time, but for now let me tell you that you do not want to hear a rabbit scream.)

Eventually we got the kids to give the nest some space and the mother has returned. I think we should call her Decker. At the south end of our yard is a wonderful shelter belt. The grove of trees extends probably 50 yards. Why wouldn't the bird choose a spot out there? Or why not under the soffit outside my office (that's the location of choice for swallows). At least there would be a view of the trees.

I think I know why the bird chose to nest under my deck--safety. No predators, protection from the elements, it's a great spot...or is it? My 5 year old son and 3 year old daughter like playing under the deck. Now they know there are baby birds under there. Sound safe to you?

Life lesson: Perhaps when we choose the safe option we forfeit something beautiful (like the grove). And in chasing safe things perhaps we put ourselves in danger.

That kind of explains why my family and I are leaving for 5 weeks on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwest South Dakota. We'll be co-directing a project for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Of all the choices we had regarding what to do with our summer (we work with university students and the pace changes drastically in the summer) this one is perhaps not the safest in some ways. It is certainly not the most convenient or comfortable. But I'm pretty sure God has something beautiful for us. If you're the praying type I'd love for you to be involved that way.

I'll try to keep you posted on our adventure out west. Check out InterVarsity's Pine Ridge Global Project web page for a great video and lots of info.