Head Banger

Colossians 3:5a -- Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature;"

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There is no sound on earth like it and it can be heard from the living room: "Thump. Brush, brush, brush. Thump. Tap. Tap. Thump"

The cats immediately stop everything they are doing and run to the front of the house to perch in the window sill of the dining room. The cardinal is back. Sighing to myself I walk into the dining room and flip the light on. That usually stops the crazy bird from attacking his own reflection in the arched glass at the top of the large window frame.

Satisfied that I've taken care of the problem I walk back into the living room to work on my cross-stitch. Before I can even get settled back into a good rhythm, however - the sound starts up again. Only this time, it's coming from the glass arch of the front door.

Really?! That silly bird went out of his way to find another smooth surface from which he could see himself! I couldn't believe it. The dining room situation doesn't puzzle me as much as the front door. There is a decorative tree in full bloom with lush, full branches from which the cardinal can see himself in the glass of the dining room window. The branches brush up against the window - affording the cardinal a perfect view of himself. But there are no trees near the front door. He has to go out of his way to seek out the glass there. Either he really, really wants inside to play with my cats - or he's not a very bright bird.

I feel certain that one of these days he's going to break his neck.

The truth of the matter is - during this time of year both male and female cardinals become a crazy frenzy of trumped up hormones that create this overwhelming obsession with defending their turf. All across the Eastern US and much of Mexico - people have reported aggressive cardinals of both sexes attacking windows, car mirrors, and other reflective surfaces. They really can't help themselves. It comes naturally ingrained in their DNA.

A natural and normal behavior, however, doesn't protect the animal from sometimes fatal encounters with these surfaces. There is a long and tragic history between smooth reflective glass and all manner of feathered friend.

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Through the years as I have watched my baby boys grow into college students I have seen them engage in behaviors/mannerisms that are nearly a dead ringer to those of their parents. Tyler's love for all things technical and Brian's sense of humor each ring a familiar bell and seem to have been physically handed to them on a genetic platter - strait from the loving hands of their Dad. There is occasion, however, when I see that these two gentlemen have indulged in some natural tendencies to which I really wish they weren't predisposed.

You and I have strong inclinations to some negative natural instincts, as well. And like my seemingly deranged brightly feathered friend - these inclinations may lead us into some serious, serious trouble.

Which is why Paul stresses so strongly - that we put them to death.

Let's face it - there is very little in our natural human tendencies that lead us to the good graces of Jesus Christ. That IS in fact, why he had to give his life for us in the first place. So it's  no wonder that Paul encourages us to really kill these instincts off.

Perhaps - if I daily pray these behaviors away and focus solely on my Savior - I will become less and less like the pretty cardinal that constantly rams his head into my glass archways. I understand now, why Paul says that for us to die is gain. I will be most happy to bury deep these negative natural tendencies. How about you?