Thorn Bird.

Tonight at Catholic Mass, Father Anthony shared with us this story:
There is a legend about a bird which sings just once in its life, more sweetly than any other creature on the face of the earth. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, and does not rest until it has found one. Then, singing among the savage branches, it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine. And, dying, it rises above its own agony to out-carol the lark and the nightingale. One superlative song, existence the price. But the whole world stills to listen, and God in His heaven smiles. For the best is only bought at the price of great pain... or so says the legend...

I was moved so deeply by this image. Something in this small bird's dying song struck a chord within me. I got lost in mass tonight in a funny dream, I could hear the bird singing. There was something singing within me a beautiful song of hope for whatever lies ahead, it tells me "To live is Christ, to die is gain." God cannot work through despair, he cannot move in denial or shame, God cannot move when we give up or quit trying. God moves through us when we are willing to be moved. Whether he will move us to suffering or comfort we do not know, but through faith we have to TRUST Him.

My Jesus, Our Jesus, is the songbird. He died upon the sharpest thorn singing the most beautiful song. For those of us who hear His song resonate in our soul, it makes us stop in our tracks and be still. Heaven smiles and we know the Hope of eternity. With that we must work, we must sacrifice and love until everyone hears the same song that came to save us.

"May the eyes of your heart may be enlightened that you may know the HOPE to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19