Run! Hide!

A flicker of movement caught my eye as I walked up the sidewalk. A small flock of tiny birds scurried around and hunted for breakfast. Their colors blended with the asphalt driveway in my neighbor’s side yard, and they were hard to see. When they saw me, they ran to the safety of the bushes. I wondered what instinct prompted them to run rather than to fly. I imagined their conversation.

“Someone comes.”

“Run. Hide.”

“She’s gone now.  Come back.”

“What were we doing?  Oh, yes. Breakfast.”

I continued on my way and thought about my small, feathered friends. What life lesson might they teach me today?

I have a flight instinct also. There are times when I want to run and hide from the unfamiliar. My heart desires safety. Do I remain in hiding or return to hold my ground? I would always wish to face the unknown and complete my task—whether it was given to me or self-appointed.