TIMELESS PARABLES OF DIVINE REVELATIONS | PART 2
I used to skip over without much thought the story of Jesus going to the desert for 40 days. I realize now that the desert is not void of life. Quite the contrary. Desert is teeming with its own unique life. I would project that Jesus took time to sit, walk, observe, and learn from nature. Based on Jesus’ teachings and parables, it is not hard to conclude that he drew lots of images and lessons from nature. I wonder if the nature of desert taught Jesus some of God’s most hidden and profound revelations. Jesus’ words of “look at the birds of the air and consider the lilies of the field” capture and evoke ancient and eternal imaginations of how to live this life. Jesus’ usage of “trees, plants, animals, mustard seed, pearl, lamb, wolves, etc.” further evoke lessons drawn from nature and what could be assessed to benefit humanity’s consciousness and maturity.
Jesus grew up in the hills of Galilee and frequented the sea of Galilee. Jesus taught often in the mountains, in the hills, or near the water. Jesus often mingled with people in the countryside. Though Jesus participated in the creation of the natural world, the cosmos, (which the author of Genesis deemed as “very good”) Jesus also models how to observe and learn from the natural world. When Apostle John captures “for God so loved the world,” the purview of God’s love includes the entirety of God’s creation, not just humanity. It does not escape me to know that Jesus did not blitz through towns and regions in the latest and the most effective form of transportation device, but mainly walked and walked everywhere.
It is true we can walk and not pay attention or pay too much attention, because too many things are grabbing our attention, especially in cities. Soren Kierkegaard’s aforementioned small book, The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air, is a gem.
Therefore, in accordance with the instructions of the gospel, let us in earnest regard the lily and the bird as teachers. In earnest, for the gospel is not so intellectually pretentious as to be unable to make use of the lily and the bird; but neither is it so worldly that it is only capable of regarding the lily and the bird mournfully or with a smile. (15-16)
If we are humble enough, then perhaps we can regard the lily and the bird as teachers. If we also slow down enough to notice, then the lily and the bird will be our teachers. We can’t slow down unless we walk or sit and be still and be silent. Kierkegaard elaborates, “The bird keeps silent and waits; it knows, or rather it fully and firmly believes, that everything takes place at its appointed time.” (Italics are his.) He develops further, “Only by keeping silent does one encounter the moment. When one speaks, even if one says only a single word, one misses the moment. Only in silence is the moment.” (Italics are his.)
Kierkegaard’s exhortation to “encounter the moment” in silence and waiting is one of the great lessons of the lily of the field and the bird of the air. Unfortunately, it is an exhortation that is largely forgotten or ignored by the “systems” of Christianity. We are so concerned with the future and assurances and certainties with the future that we somehow forgot to engage in what the present moment holds for us and can possibly teach us. The moment is divine because the Divine initiated and is present in it. The Divine does not normally force, pull strings, or hit us with a lightning rod, so we comprehend the moment. The Divine does it ever so gently and fleetingly if only we can walk, wait, sit, observe, and be silent.