Chapter 4: LESSONS OF THE BIRDS

We continued to fly higher. Before we neared the tallest mountain, I saw vultures circling the valley below us. Their bald heads looked raw, unclean, and repugnant.

The white Eagle spoke, “Pay no attention to them. They seek that which is dead, not the living.” I diverted my eyes.

CHIMNEY SWIFTS

Suddenly, thousands of small, dark birds began to pass us. The sky was filled with them. They chattered loudly among themselves. The sound of their wings added to the commotion of their flight. They were so noisy and gabby that they did not recognize the white Eagle flying among them. They called past us to confer and re-confer with one another.

“Chimney swifts,” the white Eagle said. “They live in soot. They rise, but not from fire. Covered with charcoal, they rise from the darkness of hiding among that which is charred. Their tails are like snakes’ tongues. Do not fly with them.” Hearing their communal chatter, the word gossip came to mind—”for poison is in their tales,” I thought.

An updraft mercifully carried us higher than their piercing calls. I was troubled by the Lord’s warning and began to ponder what He had said.

Often conversation among the brethren did seem to be more like a checkout counter tabloid than the admonition from Paul to “let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29). “Indeed,” I thought, “how can we fly higher if we are earthbound by our fascination with hearing of and talking about sin—not only the world’s sins, but also sin among the brethren? Our earthbound focus has driven a stake into the ground to which our spirits are tethered.”

HAWKS

I blinked back into the present moment as a dark bird of prey passed beneath us.

“Hawk’s hawk,” the Lord said. “Do not fly with them.”

“Hawking your wares,” I murmured to myself. I had not thought of that phrase in years—and certainly not in connection with the work of the kingdom. However, now that I thought about it, it seemed that in trying to reach the world or Christ, some of us had become remarkably like the world. We rivaled sideshow barkers in our flamboyant peddling. Could it be that we were cheapening the depth of commitment to which the Lord had called us? Was the salt losing its savor?

FALCONS

Before I could consider this further, a falcon swooped passed us. “Falcons will con you,” the white Eagle said. “The lie will run your life afoul. Do not fly with them.” “With whom may I fly, Lord?” I asked.

“Fly with Me, Anna. Fly with Me. Eagles nest high)’‘They do not travel in flocks like ducks [following one another instead of the Lord]. They do not roost together like chickens [seeking protection from others instead of Christ]. They do not hunt bugs together like geese [seeking provision from other than the Lord]. Eagles nest high. Do you wish to fly with Me, Anna?” “Yes, Lord,” I said.

“Stop trying to be a part of the flock [that does not follow the Lord]. Turn into the wind, and let the currents lift you higher.”

THE ROCK

Immediately, the wind swelled beneath His wings.

“We will soar, Anna. We will soar,” He exclaimed. We did soar, higher and higher. “Leave your father’s and your mother’s house. ‘The King desires your company.” With a mighty upsurge of wind and power, we soared to the rock near the top of the mountain.

The great white Eagle gently descended. He settled upon the rim of His large nest. I climbed from His back and sat down near its center.

‘The nest was made of strong tree branches. When I was seated on its floor, the rim was about chest high.

FRANKINCENSE

Within its circumference, there was the pungent aroma of frankincense.

“Purity,” I thought to myself. “That is what the Lord has been saying through the lesson of the birds. It is not enough to love Him and want to be with Him. He wants a bride who is pure—one who is free from the world, the flesh, and the devil. Also one who will not participate in the sins of immature Christians—one who is willing to be transformed into His likeness.” I folded my arms on top of the nest and rested my head on my hands, looking out. We were very high above the valley. You could see for miles. ‘The land looked fertile.

I had noticed a few white feathers within the nest when I sat down. As I looked out over the valley now, I wondered how many of my own juvenile feathers had been replaced by the strong, mature, white ones.” “Am I growing up? Am I being transformed? Am I willing to pay the price?”

THE QUESTION

My heavenly Father had asked me this question when I became His chancellor (a secretary to a king). I answered that I was willing. Sometimes, however, I find that I answer before I know the cost--the real cost.

Now I wanted to ask myself the same question: “Am I willing to pay the price? Really willing? Do I want to give up habits that I consider minor infractions—the ones about which the devil whispers to me, ‘It’s all right this time? Am I willing to let the Holy Spirit bring me into a disciplined life, the life of a disciple?” My thoughts continued. And my motives: “Do I want success, or am I willing to allow Him to work through me, freely embracing the visible outcome or lack of visible outcome—whichever He chooses? What reward do I seek—Him or my own glory, being the bride He desires or becoming a marketable commodity? What reward do I seek?”

THE ROSE

I turned to look at the white Eagle. He had changed into Jesus. The Lord now was sitting on the rim of the nest with His feet on its floor. In His left hand He held a large, pink rose.

“The flesh may look good,” He said, “but the thorns on this rose can cause many wounds.” Suddenly in His right hand appeared a bouquet of (what looked like) red tulips. “This is the rose of Sharon,” He continued. “It grows within My garden. I want you to be such a rose, Anna, a rose without thorns.” The pink rose disappeared as He continued, “Testings crack the grip of the flesh. Let yourself be poured from vessel to vessel so that the cracked sediment can be left behind.” He handed to me the bouquet of the red rose of Sharon. For you, Anna, He said.

“My Lord, they are beautiful,” I responded. “But will they not die here on Earth?”

THE REWARD

“They will not die,” He smiled. “When you are rewarded by the Reward, life, even life on Earth, becomes electric, mysterious, pulsating with true, eternal life.’ You become a life-giving spirit, for My Spirit touches others through you.” He continued, “When I in greater measure flow through you, My reward is with Me. Fortresses tumble, walls crack and fall—more life rushes through your spirit and overflows to others. But you too benefit. You too are invigorated by being a channel of My life.” The choice was clear—life or death. If I wanted more life—more of Him—it would cost me. “What will it cost me?” I quickly asked myself “Everything,” I quickly answered. “Everything else.’ But what is that everything else?” I again asked myself. “Death. Everything outside of Him is death, death wearing a mask, mere delusion. No,” I thought to myself; “let others have more of the world. I want more of God.” I got up from the floor of the nest and sat beside Him on its rim. I looked into those clear eyes. “I want You as my reward, Lord. Since You have promised to be my reward, the only reward I will accept is You.” Laying the bouquet in my lap, I put my arms around Him, resting my head on His chest. “You, Lord. I want my Lover, my Friend; I want my Husband and my strong tower. I love You and will be satisfied with nothing but You.

“My little princess,” He said, kissing me softly on my forehead, I love you.

I tilted my head to look up at Him. “Thank You for loving me,” I said. Then I returned my head to His chest. How secure I felt with His arms around me, how happy, how complete and totally at peace. I asked quietly, “Did You watch me grow up?” “Yes,” He answered tenderly.

“I wish I could have watched You grow up,” I said.

ALONE TOGETHER

We sat together quietly, holding one another. “We do not need words, do we, Anna? Give Me your hand,” He said.

He took my hand and placed it over His heart. I could feel and hear His heart beating. He looked down at His hand covering mine. “My heart beats for you, Anna.”When I looked up into His face, His eyes were full of tears. “I love you,” He said.

BLUE SPIRITS

Suddenly, before us in the air were twenty-four spirits.’ They were ice blue, like clear gemstones. I could see right through them. In a stately manner they began to dance to heavenly music that seemed to come from nowhere. They danced on the air as if it were a floor. However, when they made a circle, it was vertical, like a wheel. Their demeanor was reverential. They began to sing:

Let the earth hear heaven declare.

Hear, O Earth, its voice.

Paradise breathes out a prayer.

Trees and rocks rejoice.

Every minute, every hour

Singing songs unsung,

Praising mysteries of His power,

Blades of grass a tongue.

Endless wonder, endless awe,

Endless pure delight,

Life and love the Spirit’s law

In heaven, land of light.

Ever seeing, yet unseen

Spirits join as one,

Extolling God, our gracious King,

Extolling Christ, His Son.

Hear, O Earth, as heaven sings.

Echo back its praise,

Silent, joyful thundering

To God, th’ Ancient of Days.

After their song ended, the dance continued to heavenly music. I remained with my head resting on the Lord’s shoulder as I watched the spirits complete their dance.

I wondered if the Lord would be wooing me always as He was doing now. “Will it always be like this?” I asked.

He smiled, “No, Anna. As on Earth the preparation for marriage is not marriage, so with the birds—a couple in mating rituals is not the couple ‘after consummation and nesting begins. Yet each period of time is rich in itself. You do not like a static routine. Why should you mind change? Eat what is set before you. Enjoy the journey today.” The spirits completed their exquisite offering. ‘The music ended. I sat up. Ishi and I both clapped in appreciation.

“Deeply meaningful, dear friends,” He said to the spirits. He turned to me, “Hold out your right hand.” I did. Instantly the spirits flew to me.

BLUE SALT

Each spirit poured into my hand a small deposit of blue salt. Then each spirit flew back to stand before us.

“Eat, Anna,” the Lord said. I ate the blue salt. It was good. He continued, “This covenant of salt is for the heavenly realm.” The spirits seemed exceedingly pleased to have represented heaven in helping to make this covenant. “Thank you, My dear friends,” Jesus said. They bowed deeply from the waist, then disappeared.

THE EMERALD

“Come, Anna,” the Lord said, rising. He helped me to stand. I picked up the bouquet. Instantly it became a large emerald. I blurted out a laugh, because it startled me.

“For your crown, Anna,” He said.

“Thank You, Lord,” I smiled in return (although, as with my Father, I did not know to what crown He was referring). “How do You spend so much time with me?” I asked.

“It is in My job description,” He laughed. He held out His hand to me saying, “Come.” I gave Him my hand. We began to rise from the nest.

WHEEL OF THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL

As we rose, I saw an unrolled scroll with writing on it. It extended from heaven to Earth and then back to heaven again. It formed a huge wheel touching Earth and heaven. We rose right beside it.

“I have never seen this, Lord,” I said.

“The everlasting gospel made visible Anna He said. Proclaimed in heaven, fulfilled on Earth—proclaimed on Earth, fulfilled in heaven. Come.”