Identity

Now, of course, the hummingbird feeder is bright red to get their attention, and yes, the sweet water is something that they seem to relish. They will fight over that feeder, dive bombing each other when another hummingbird dares to try to take a drink from THEIR feeder!

But how the woodpecker would know there was something desirable in that feeder is a mystery to me. Maybe the color red attracts them too (?), although that doesn’t seem very logical. I don’t know any trees that are bright red, except for those with leaves turning colors in the autumn. Perhaps they watched the little hummingbirds and wondered what was going on over there, and figured they’d check it out.

Who knows?

Envy

Somehow, it reminded me of how easily we can be like that. Most pointedly, it seemed similar to how so many people in the prevailing culture seem to think nothing of the fact that boys/men are acting, dressing and trying to be like girls/women, and vice verse.

Surely those inclinations are brought about in a variety of ways. At the base of some of it may be a dissatisfaction with the way that they WERE made, and wanting what their neighbor has (what the Bible would call “envy”).

As young teens go through turbulent years while they are maturing, it is often a scary proposition for their bodies to change, and it’s natural to be uncomfortable with some of those hormonal shifts, because some of it is embarrassing, painful or annoying.

So instead of encouraging young people to stand firm, while going through those challenges and naturally maturing, it is sometimes said to be more “loving” to “affirm” that discomfort by saying they were just born in the wrong body. So, some adults encourage them to simply pretend to be something they’re not.

Imposters

Not unlike that woodpecker if he decided to try to be more like a hummingbird because he liked the taste of sweet nectar better than hitting his head on a tree all day. Problem is, eventually, he’d starve if he tried that, because the feeder comes down at this time of the year (fall) because the REAL hummingbirds take off on their LONG journey all the way from NJ to Mexico (or somewhere near there).

That’s part of the challenging life of the hummingbird. It’s not all nectar and pretty flowers. Those tiny little creatures somehow navigate miles and miles back and forth every year. (Wow, isn’t the Lord’s creation INCREDIBLE?!!!)

It would be just as ridiculous if a hummingbird tried to cling to a tree trunk and repeatedly jam its beak into the bark of a tree to get insects inside. Granted, they MAY eat some little insects now and then, but you get the point.

They could think (if they thought things like this, that is;) … “Wow, those woodpeckers don’t have to make that huge trip. Maybe it would be easier to just stick around here over the winter and not bother with all that flying and that incredibly dangerous journey”.

Point is, both types of birds’ lives have their pluses and minuses.

Also, when one tries to steal the other’s place, like that woodpecker at the hummingbird feeder, it can easily turn one of those pluses INTO a minus for that hummingbird. They might become inhibited from going to the feeder (although they’d probably just dive bomb the woodpecker since they’re so territorial, LOL). But the nourishment intended for the hummingbirds would be consumed by the woodpecker. Not the way of life for either bird.

Maturity

Some people are encouraging young people at a very vulnerable time in their lives to not accept the uncomfortable parts of maturing, and simply pretend to be something they are not… It’s easier; it’s more comfortable.

But they will never have the benefits OR challenges of the persons they are impersonating. They will be living a lie. And they will be keeping those who really ARE young men or women from fully becoming all that THEY were intended to be, taking away their incentive and opportunities.

Safe and Effective

It’s funny, when that little woodpecker was sitting on the feeder, I was able to get within a few feet of him (from inside the window) and he didn’t budge–a potentially vulnerable position for him.

When he was on a tree on a different day, and I tried to get near to take a picture, he immediately and instinctively flew away to another tree…. That was much safer and more effective for him to live as God intended.

I’m not making light of the emotional struggles that young people face (or anyone, for that matter), for of course, adolescence is filled with difficult years.

At the same time, living in the truth, the way that God designed is a much more effective, safe and satisfying path in the long run.

Funny how most animals just know that intuitively (unless perhaps we confuse them by putting big old humming bird feeders out there, LOL). Normally, they just go ahead and BE what God made them to be.

Strange how easily we supposedly-intelligent humans can be so led astray into thinking we are something that we are obviously NOT to anyone looking at us objectively.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

All this to say, every person, young or old, male or female is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that includes YOU.

Are you contented to let the Lord mature you and grow you as HE intended, with both the challenges AND blessings of walking in the way that He designed?

No matter how old or young we are, there will always be challenges that we need to face and stand firm.

Surely, as Christians, He desires to transform us…. To look more like HIM (Romans 12:2). Not to morph into one another or a cheap imitation of another type of person….

Both the hummingbird and downy woodpecker are AMAZING little creatures. And as Jesus said, (in Matthew 6:26) “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. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Yes, far more valuable, my friend. He has made YOU in His image, and desires to perfect that work. I pray that you will be able to relax in who He has designed you to be, and let Him transform you into His likeness in His perfect way and time.

If this word has touched your heart, please consider sharing it with a friend or loved one who might need to be reminded of the wonderful way that God created them as well.

The featured music for this episode is “Psalm 84” from the Painter of the Heavens CD (available through Loving Grace Ministries). You can hear it as the closing music of the associated blog post (linked in the footer below) as well as the music video below.

I pray that as you listen you will not only be reminded of the beauty of what He has made that surrounds us every day, but know deep inside that He has made YOU as well, just as He desired. God bless you and keep you.