Fearless Faith

Spring has brought numbers of interesting things to our doorstep, most related to a wetter than normal start to the growing season. Peonies are blooming as never before, columbine have exploded in the partial sun, and the false indigo is ahead of schedule. In short, the perennials are performing better that can be recalled in recent years. The combination of mild weather, cool nights, ample rainfall and a head start on feeding the potted plants has resulted in a visual feast.

Another highlight of this particular spring is the return of several species of birds that have been absent since the derecho storm two years ago. Of note, the kingbirds with their raucous call and acrobatic flight arrived just in time to gorge themselves on miller moths. Killdeer, masters of playing hurt to draw predators away from their nests, announced their presence with a distinctive call.

A relative newcomer also made center stage outside an office window where a cotoneaster has been growing for the last 20 plus years. Unlike the coloring on other birds frequenting our place, the orange and black markings were a dead giveaway. A songbird app and bird identification software confirmed a bullock’s oriole was eager to have found us (or at least the cotoneaster). It’s not like we can’t appreciate the more common birds including robins, house sparrows, house finches, and Eurasian collared doves; but when something out of the ordinary suddenly appears, it is time to take notice. Who can guess when the opportunity will next arise?

An attempt to image the oriole using a cell phone could not account for the window screen and the stubborn refusal of the camera to discover any depth of field beyond the screen’s aluminum mesh. Surprisingly, a mosaic image of the bird emerged that, at a distance, captured the essence of the bird nonetheless. It took a different vantage point and a willingness to consider a divergent view of the matter. Had the cell phone imaged in the manner I was demanding, something new and wonderful would have been missed.

To be informed that there is only one correct interpretation of scripture is generally an exercise in its misapplication. Standing too close risks missing the bigger picture. Viewing from afar results in nuances and insights being lost or set aside. Any way we approach it, our spiritual focus is challenged if we are open to the experience. There are still some wonderful truths worth sharing. What are we afraid of?

Author Brian McLaren advocates for re-consecrating everything that surrounds us … new looks, new views, and the dismissal of things in our lives that are hurtful and unhelpful. The “spiritual ecology” he proposes might include the need to both teach and unteach, to revisit old doctrines, and to view theological perspectives through new lenses. What if a groundbreaking paradigm discovers us in the process? Can we grasp the scope of changes that might be ushered in? For some, it represents a fearful endeavor, for others a welcome relief.

Growing into faith is always a challenging prospect. Will we limit our depth of field, or can we find ways to enlarge the picture before us? Must it be clearly defined or is there a mosaic begging to be interpreted? Perhaps the orioles have something to offer.