The Buzzard Bat and Bee
By Ronnie Wyatt
This is so weird! Do you realize that if you put a buzzard in a pen three or four feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, despite his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner? The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a running start. If it does not have space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly. He will remain a prisoner even though freedom is available above him!
The same is true with the ordinary bat that flies around at night. A remarkably nimble creature in the air, but it struggles to take off from a level place. If it is placed in an open top cage on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and painfully. Its only hope is to find some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. If it cannot find an elevated place to jump from, it will die in the cage even if there is freedom right above it!
Similarly a bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself even though freedom is available from above.
I cannot help but notice that in many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling through life with all their problems, frustrations and burdens. Even to the point of feeling like a prisoner in their own world, not realizing that the answer is right there "above" them.
This story reminded me of a hymn that we sang at church this past Sunday. The name of the hymn was “What A friend We Have In Jesus.” One of the verses in that hymn goes like this:
“Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear – All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”
We struggle trying to make a way ourselves when the answer is above. The Bible offers us a wonderful promise that we should hold tight to every day in every struggle, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).”
Those that trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord have access to the unlimited mercy and grace of the almighty God whenever they need it! Are you tired of fighting alone? Maybe it’s time that you look up!
Verse of the week:
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.“ 1 Peter 5: 5-7
Ronnie Wyatt travels for Crosseyed Ministries as a Christian Comedian, Evangelist, Conference Speaker and Author. www.crosseyedministries.com
