Birds are attractive to many people, and we can learn from the birds and the birdwatchers.
It was a number of years ago, our home had the opportunity to host a birdwatcher who came all the way from Taiwan. Prior to that, I didn’t take notice of the birds coming to our backyard. After our family stayed with this birdwatcher and heard her telling us the characteristics of birds. Something happened to me that I started to be aware of the presence of birds and was more alert to bird sound. From that experience, I understand that whatever you want to learn, you can catch it by spending time with the expert concerned. The more you associate with the person, you are more likely influenced by that person.
The other thing about birds is that birds are more numerous than human beings. According to rough estimate, the ratio between birds and human beings is fifteen to one. The birds are able to survive despite its huge number. One thing we can learn from the birds is that they are free from worry. As Jesus said,
“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?”
鸟对不少人具有一定的吸引力,我们也可以从鸟和观鸟者那里有所学习。
好几年前,有机会接待一位来自台湾的观鸟者到我们的家。在此之前,我都没有注意到会有鸟儿来到我们家的后院。当我们家人和这位观鸟者住在一起,听了她谈到鸟儿的特征。结果我受到影响,我开始感觉到鸟儿的存在,也対鸟声敏感起来。由于这个经验,我意识到无论你想学什么,你只要能夠花时间与有关专家相处。假以时日,你就更可能会受到那人的影响。
关于鸟的另一方面,就数量来说,鸟逺比人多。根据估计,鸟与人的大慨比例是十五对一。尽管数目巨大,鸟却仍然能够生存。我们可以从鸟方面学到的一件事即是牠们不会憂虑。诚如耶稣所说:
“所以我告訴你們,不要為生命憂慮吃甚麼,喝甚麼;為身體憂慮穿甚麼。生命不勝於飲食嗎? 身體不勝於衣裳嗎?你們看那天上的飛鳥,也不種,也不收,也不積蓄在倉裏,你們的天父尚且養活牠。你們不比飛鳥貴重得多嗎?”