Storks and Spoonbills

We have all heard the adage: “birds of a feather flock together”.  However, there are some birds who do not have the same feathers but still flock together.  One example of that are the Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills.  Storks are on the ugly side and spoonbills are one of the most beautiful birds around.  The tall gangly Wood Stork has black and white feathers, and the Roseate Spoonbill has white feathers tinged with a beautiful pink.  The storks bill is long and adapted to picking up insects and small fish.  The spoonbills bill is shaped for filtering out aquatic creatures and algae.  When the dry season approaches you often see these two contrasting birds gather together in the shallow marshes.  Why do these two contrasting birds flock together?  It is all about food.  When there is a lack of abundant water supply, these two birds though much different in appearance, forage together.

The church of Jesus Christ contains many birds of a different feather.  They may be rich or poor.  The believers who gather in God’s house on Sundays may come from various backgrounds and be different colors.  They may even have different nationalities and a variety of ages.  However, they gather together because they have something in common.  They are hungry for the same food: “the Word of God”.  Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:2: “Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the Word, so that you may grow up into your salvation”.  The Old Testament also calls God’s Word food.  It says in in Jeremiah 15:16: “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts”. The only way a child of God can grow is to feed on God’s Word.

God’s flock contains birds of many different feathers. Storks and spoonbills alike. Some of us may even be considered odd birds. But because of the love of Christ and the Word of God we can all flock together.