Ruffled Feathers
I love watching the birds in my back yard and neighborhood. I’ve observed the Great Blue Heron, tiny sparrow, red tail hawk, turkeys, goldfinch, ducks and many more. They are all unique and we can learn lessons from them if we take notice.
Birds will ruffle their feathers to keep warm, scare away a predator or to impress a future mate. Why do we humans get our feathers ruffled so easily? Sometimes it is for the same reasons! But watching the news recently, I just shook my head in disbelief. In a nutshell- Apparently a woman was driving too slowly so the man behind her passed her only to stop at a light just in front of her. Someone bumped the other. She actually got out of her car to confront him. The man got out of his car and pushed her down in the snow. Of course part of this was captured on video for everyone to watch on the news. A “he said and did” verses “she said and did” tale enfolded. Really? Why did either one of them get out of their cars?
The book of Proverbs has much to say about such foolish arrogance.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. 16 The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Prov 12:15-16 (ESV)
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Prov 19:11
A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Prov 29:11 (ESV)
Why do we let ourselves get so irritated so easily? The answer is selfishness, 
a sense of entitlement and pride. Life is too short to be so hot and bothered by every little offence, real or imagined. We need to slow down, take that deep breath and count to ten. Why do we get so puffed up and waste emotional energy? (best example is when driving!!!) Will this matter tomorrow or the next day?
Our easy technology does make it worse – Nobody had cell phones in their cars 10+ years ago. Just because we have them doesn’t mean we need to be on them while driving, walking and even while shopping. We have become so oblivious to our surroundings that it can be dangerous. Look up. Look around. Be alert. Be aware.
31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Luke 6:31 (NLT)
We as Christians need to ask God to lead us each day and let the fruit of the Holy Spirit bloom in our lives. Christianity is a daily walk that needs to be prepared for (just like we prepare for the weather) through prayer and reading His Word. It really doesn’t come easy because of our natural self-centerdness, and some days it takes a lot of effort!
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-23 (ESV)
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; James 1:19 (ESV) .
Friends, let’s not get our feathers so ruffled and puffed up and everyone will have a better day.
