A Mocking bird got inside our warehouse at work.  It flew in through the garage door.  I tried everything I could think of to get it out.  I made loud noises, I cranked the forklift but the bird just would not go out.  A few minutes later I saw another bird inside sitting with the first bird.  About an hour later there were now three birds, but one of them began to come and go through the door.  I closed the door for about a half hour and then opened it hoping the birds would see an exit and fly out. But the two stayed put.

I have found that birds caught in a large warehouse are extremely difficult to assist not to mention that I do not have equipment to capture and remove birds. The building has high doors that can be opened but the birds will not fly to the lower location to escape through the opening. Rarely will the bird fly down and go out the same place it came in.

How do I get these birds out of here?!?  I’ve often heard that if you want to catch a theif, then you have to think like a theif.  I thought that I were a bird I would fly near them and show them the way out.  Then I realized that probably wouldn’t work as one of the three birds was flying in and out as if trying to show the way… but the others chose not to follow.  I don’t know if they were trying to make a nest or if they were just lost.

I thought how difficult it must be to get through life with such a tiny brain.

We humans are much like the birds with large brains.  Jesus came like the third bird and knew the way in and out, yet, the people of his time did not follow.  Even the twelve that were his closest companions that walked, ate and slept with him everyday did not follow him until he died and came again.

The Mocking birds in my warehouse made all sorts of sounds to call the other birds to them – as if crying for help.  But when help arrived, they would not follow – just sit and chirp (complain).

We are just like the birds we make all sorts of noise when we are in trouble.  We tell our friends, we get mad and we even call on the name of God.  Then when we are told that Jesus came as an example and shows us the way out, it is very had to follow because of our free will.  We can often get trapped in the warehouses of life.

Isn’t following Jesus about getting out of the warehouse?  Do we have faith that Jesus came into the world to explain God and to help us get out of this world?  The Old Testament is filled with stories of the Jews following leaders sent by God yet the always failed to get where God wanted them to go.

Do we really believe that Jesus came to show us the way out?  Do we live like we believe it?

I am frustrated with these birds.  At the end of the day I will have to close the doors and leave them in the warehouse for the weekend.  I guess God gets to feeling that way with us.  Three days trapped in the warehouse with no way out the birds could die.  I just don’t know what to do about the birds.  God gave us free will and many examples to live a righteous life if we would just follow.

Are you like the birds trapped in the warehouse of life?  Will you follow the examples of Christ Jesus and turn your life over to him?  He will not leave you in there for the weekend. He will place you on his wings and lead you to a better life.

Pray this prayer with me.  Jesus I need your help.  I will follow you out of my life’s problems.  I will turn over to you all things in my life and follow you. I have always tried to do things on my own and now it is time to get out of this trapped life by reading and following your words.  Thank you for coming to earth to teach us about God and his Grace. Let me be filled with your Holy Spirit.  Let me be the light if I am the only Bible that other people read. Let me be the stained glass that reflects your teachings in my life.  Amen

-Steve Rusk

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