Birds and the Brown Book

 Growing up Baptist, I became familiar with many "Brown Book" songs.  The Brown Book was the hymnal used by our elder church members when those folks were kids and probably since their parents were kids.  This thing was Bible thumping serious.  There were no warm, fuzzy, feel-good worship songs with guitar riffs or syncopated drum beats contained on those worn, yellowed pages.  The Brown Book songs preached a message of hell-fire and brimstone mixed with an occasional tease of the beauty of heaven.  One of my favorites is "His Eye is on the Sparrow."  It was always a staple at any funeral service and our Pastor sang it with tenderness and conviction...and sick vibrato.  It was just another song we sang to appease the old folks, but I liked it.  Traditional, simple, singable.   

Today, as I was meditating on my Lenten study, I looked out the window and saw a single bird in the neighbor's tree.  Immediately, that song came into my head.  It wasn't until this morning that I really contemplated the message of that song.  From part of the refrain, "For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me,"  God revealed the simple, yet profound message that He is in control.  If He can provide food, shelter, and care for a bird...not to mention every other creature on the planet...then He will take care of my needs.  What do I have to worry about?  I get caught up in the concerns of this world.  I get discouraged because I'm not losing weight fast enough, or upset because I can't deal with kids' attitudes, or embarrassed that we have a tiny house.  This was a perfect reminder that there is a loving and faithful and grace-giving God who will bear any of my worries or struggles and that I can go to Him with anything.  And, He will take care of me.  It's not always the way that I expect or even want, but it's the best way and the most perfect way.  If we give Him everything, and depend on Him for everything, He will show us His will and free us from the stress of trying to do this life on our own. We're not the authors.  We don't know how the story ends.  We want to be in control, but to be at peace we need to give up our will and take on His.  A powerful prayer for finding God's will, "Suspice", comes from St. Ignatius of Loyola:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own.  You have given all to me.  

To you, Lord, I return it.  Everything is yours;  do with it what you will.   

Give me only your love and your grace:  that is enough for me.

When the world is too much, remember that He is in control.  Give Him your troubles.  Give Him your joys.  Give up your will.  And remember the sparrow. 🐦

Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely,
And long for Heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Refrain

I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Let not your heart be troubled,
His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth,
But one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Refrain

Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him,
From care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.

Refrain