God always provides: what I learned from Captain Crow

When you lose a confrontation with a crow, and, and it teaches that God always provides

I learned this lesson in the most unsuspecting ways and from a rather intimidating teacher. He had been staring at me since I sat down. I took one look at him and decided that I might upgrade my usual indifference to annoyance for this occasion. As I was accustomed to these looks, intense, unflinching, and almost predatory, I tried to ignore him. Usually, I took comfort because a window separated us and that we each go our separate way, eventually, after a few seconds, when the bird finally flew away. This time, the bird was here to stay!

I don’t dislike birds; I don’t really love them either! I make an exception for swans; any creature this gracefully g deserves an exception. If the bird exhibits colorful plumage, where the intensity of the colors is gradual, I may proffer a compliment or a smile. Luckily, I am not in charge of the animal kingdom (or any kingdom).

This time, the bird persisted and did not fly away. Nor did the family he had brought along for the western, cowboy-style confrontation we were about to have, where we stare each other down till one of us reaches for the pistol.

He seemed to be in a foul mood; given his thin frame, I could understand the grumpiness. He looked like a crow on an extreme diet, the kind I contemplate starting before every bikini season and then remember that I never wear bikinis; this realization usually coincides with the last bite of chocolate I am about to have. Seeing how commanding he appeared to be, I named my feathery challenger Captain Crow.

In search of leftovers

Captain Crow and his family settled down as my family was finishing our alfresco meal. Another family was also finishing their dinner and was preparing to leave their table. Captain Crow surveyed the leftovers. Hardly. Hardly anything remained. The family had cleansed their plates. Captain Crow went back to staring at me. Awkward!

Close to our table, a third family was beginning their meal. A small child started throwing his fries on the floor, hoping to attract the birds; an impromptu invitation to his family’s dinner. The parents realized what was happening when their uninvited guests arrived and installed themselves at their feet. Captain Crow promptly started dividing the morsels between his family members and was waiting for more supplies, which the child provided with delight and squeals of laughter.

I sat there and marveled. Before the beginning of time, before the Sun and the Moon and the Stars were fashioned, God knew that on this day, in July 2016, at this precise minute, Captain Crow’s family would be nourished by the generous hands of the little child who shared his fries. And yet, worrying remains one of my favorite hobbies. May all our worries fly away with Captain Crow and his family.

“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?”

Matthew 6:26

In Christ,

Mireille

Other articles you might enjoy: Do we stop praying while on vacation

Recommended Children’s Book on this topic: Philo, Rose and the Joy SuperHoly

Additional Coptic resources on this topic: Trusting God

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