BIRDS – not just in the air

*** Der deutsche Text zu diesem Bibelimpuls wurde gestern eingestellt. 

Verena, who wrote this Bible impulse, lives on Tenerife and she is part of the team for the Bible Dialogue for volunteers on Church and congregation boards.

Jesus wants us to store up treasure, but it should be the kind that doesn’t rust or is eaten by moths. Treasure that cannot be stolen by thieves. Treasure that will last in heaven. He says, and we read it in Matthew 6: “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.”

And feed them he does! The picture to the left was taken last year in June at 1600 m height (5249ft), higher than the highest Spanish settlement Villaflor on Tenerife. An agave, also called a century plant, is about 12 m (almost 40ft) high with wide branching blossoms – they offer food for uncounted canaries. Agaves are a miracle by themselves. Under normal circumstances, they take 10 to 12 years to bloom even once and then they die. But sometimes it takes decades for them to bloom. What kind of a precious thing has God thought up just to feed little birds, and they seem to be delicious to the canaries. The canaries were quite upset to see us with our cameras and scattered with loud protesting chirps from their tasty blossoms.

This moment, too, is a treasure I have stored in my heart. This week we will again drive to Villaflor, because people are in need of food, too. A small convent of nuns is caring for the poorest villagers. Unfortunately because of the collapse of the tourist industry their situation got much worse. And many who need help are added to their numbers. People here can only dream of the financial aids one can apply for in Germany. With our social funds, we from the German Protestant Congregation try our best to support them. We buy food, sanitary products, writing equipment for the children and much more. As Christians, we are required to help with the feeding of the now more than 5000. Maybe this support can be treasure to last in heaven? We feel united in our faith in Jesus Christ who promised that our Heavenly Father knows what we need and that our needs also include food and drink. It is true that each day has enough trouble of its own. But, thank God, there are also little birds and large plants that give so much joy. And so we pray:

Protect us, God, save us, God.
Be with us in all our suffering.
With warmth and light in our faces,
be near in hard times.

Protect us, God, save us, God.
Be with us when we face evil.
Be our aid and our strength, making peace.
Be in our hearts to redeem us.

Protect us, God, save us, God.
Be with us by your blessing.
Your Holy Spirit that promises life;
be with us wherever we may go. (German lyrics: Eugen Eckert)

I send my greetings to all friends of the European Bible Dialogues. Be safe in the Lord.

Lay preacher Verena Wache, Chayofa/Tenerife
June 2020