It never fails to put a smile on my face. At least 20 sparrows flying back to their bushes as I walk towards the Assisted Living Facility. It’s no wonder that the birds choose this location to congregate. Outside the building are rocking chairs occupied by senior residents who love to feed the birds.
September 10, 2017. Hurricane Irma hit the state of Florida. Although Bradenton, Florida did not get the brunt of the storm, Irma did her share of damage. Power lines down. Traffic lights inoperable. Large mature oak trees uprooted and toppled onto roadways. Debris everywhere.
A few days after Irma, I returned to work and went to see my patient in the Assisted Living Facility. As usual, I parked my car and walked on the sidewalk towards the building. At least 20 sparrows flew past me toward the bushes. I smiled as usual, then I paused to think.
The sparrows, so tiny and frail, had survived the storm. The same storm that had sent giant oaks crashing into the streets had spared the fragile sparrows. Logic would have told me to expect to find 20 little birds destroyed by the storm and all the strong oak trees standing. The words of the old gospel song popped into my mind: “His eye is on the sparrow and I know He cares for me.”
Maybe there is a scientific reason why tiny little sparrows survived the same storm that toppled the mighty oaks. For me it is enough to know that the same God who is more powerful than a hurricane is also tender enough to take care of fragile little birds in the storm.
