I was gazing out of the study window this morning instead of getting

on with a pile of paperwork – when I was transfixed by the different

varieties of birds that were enjoying a free lunch on the bird-feeders!

It won’t be long before they are busy making nests again and the

Parent birds will be making countless flights to and from their nesting

sites where their hungry chicks will be waiting to be fed.

Last spring I was fascinated and delighted to watch the amazing sight of the baby birds spreading their wings for the first time and making their maiden flight from the edge of the nesting box.

What a momentous leap that was!

Some needed encouragement from their parents who flew backwards and forwards in the vicinity until every chick had taken wing.

I tried to imagine what it must have been like for each little bird to

spread its wings for the first time in the, as yet, unproven belief

that it would be able to fly and not fall helpless to the ground.

I couldn’t help but liken it to the leap of faith which we make when

we affirm our belief in God.

We have over 2000 years of Christian heritage,

the teaching of Jesus and the example of his followers to encourage us.

 But whatever we have heard or seen, it is only when we make an act of faith by putting into practice what we know and believe that

It is no use explaining to those tiny birds the mechanics of flight or showing them how it is done. They must each make their own momentous leap from the small crowded, dark world of the nesting box into a new life full of light, space and fulfilment.

So it is with us, for once we have made the leap,

we shall find that every experience of our lives and every encounter with other people will be seen in a new light,

and even in the face of adversity we shall find that we do not fall.

God bless us in all our reflecting during this season of Lent which begins at the end of this month.

Samuel Anstee: samuel@caerphillymethodistchurch.org

Philip Begley: philip@caerphillymethodistchurch.org