His eye is on the sparrow
A prayer + a digital collage + a poem + a special offer for CB at 50% off
Gentle reader,
A couple Sundays back, my pastor, Chris Pierson, preached on Matthew 10, where Jesus says,
“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10: 26-31, NRSVUE)
And we sang,
“Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.”1
That night, sparrows filled my head as I prayed and headed towards sleep.
I invite you to pray with me:
Holy God,
Attune us to your Fatherly care. Help us to feel what it means to be gathered under Jesus’s wings, as a hen gathers her chicks. Let us know that the Spirit is with us, casting out fear, and encouraging us to relax into your presence and power.
Thank you for loving little feathered things. Thank you for loving us, down to the minute details. Thank you for coming among us in the flesh, so that we could know that you are the one who loves like that.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Beth Felker Jones, “Ballet of the falling sparrows,” a digital collage.
A poem:
Now witness the ballet of the falling sparrows, spinning all together, pirouettes unplanned against the sky, en pointe, now, at the end and watch, see, as the six-winged seraphs gather them to heavenly choirs. No fear for them in falling for they know that catch of flight; what goes up must come down, they sing because they’re free and land safe in the promise: that last turn a first jeté in the nest of God. by Beth Felker Jones
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May you know the deep relief of belonging to the God who loves every fallen sparrow and you.
Grace & peace,
BFJ
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When I was a boy - first through fourth grades - Sunday nights were filled with anxiety and fear; for, the morrow brought school which, because I had an as yet undiagnosed learning disability, was a place of failure, humiliation, and shame. My stomach was in knots and tears came. But my mother would comfort me with the words of that hymn. "His eye is on the sparrow" was the source of courage. Thank you for picking up this theme and reminding us of the old hymn.
That was beautiful. Thank you!