Read: Ecclesiastes 3:19

“Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. …”

I saw an odd sight last week. I was sitting in my chair looking out the front window when a young man (30’s) walked by our house. He stopped and bent down, staring. He repeatedly bent down gesturing, repeatedly, at something on my lawn. He was talking to it, even shouting at it. This lasted a few minutes, and I was curious so I put on my shoes went outside. The young man saw me and smiled; I nodded and asked, “What do you see?” He pointed to the ground. I looked and saw a sad sight – it was a dead cardinal (I love cardinals). “I guess it got hit,” said the young man. “I guess so,” I replied.

The young man spoke again, “I’m a follower of Jesus Christ, and I was trying to speak life into it. I have to do what my Lord says. I have to follow the Lord.” “I understand,” I said trying to be reassuring that I wasn’t the grumpy old “Get-off-my-lawn!” guy. The man repeated both his sadness, and his good intention to resurrect the beautiful cardinal. I listened, pondering the situation. The young man decided to continue on his way. I got gloves and picked up the cardinal so that my dog wouldn’t find it. I got a shovel from the garage, thanked God for the beautiful bird, and carefully buried it in our flower garden. When our physical bodies are injured or wear out, our “life” goes back to God. Solomon says as much in the verse above, but from a pessimistic outlook. I read his words and I heard the hidden hope of Christ.I believe in the actual, physical, historical resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I believe that God’s greatest miracle was to raise Him up on Easter morning. I believe that God can and does do miracles still today. But I cannot tell you when, why, or how a miracle may happen, and I do not find the “answers” of those who claim to know, very satisfying. Miracles don’t happen as often as I’d like, but I’ve seen only a few. And I’ll suggest that we take for granted many common miracles of life, everyday.

I find that I have one foot solidly planted in science and the other foot solidly planted in faith. I live happily in that balanced worldview. I have more than a “mustard seed” of faith, and I grasp that life is both physical and spiritual, organic and immeasurable. I know the beautiful fallen bird will join with the Earth, and I believe it sings its song anew – in a spiritual realm not quantifiable by the common measures of this world.

Shalom, Pastor Rob Nystrom