Hey Sister,
So I’ve been reading this book and a bunch of the way through it I felt like I was on board the magical mystery tour bus. LOL It’s called “The Lily of the field and the bird of the air” by Seron Kierkegaard. I discovered this author a few years ago when I came across a quote of his in regards to freedom. You know how much I love freedom so I finally got one of his books. This was published in 1848. 1848! crazy right? Well, this particular book is a “discourse” (as he calls it) on Matthew 6. Particularly the verse 26-28 when Jesus himself says,
“Look at the birds . They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are…”Look at the Lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, wont he more surely care for you? You have such little faith!”
Even though the author does get a little trippy and very philosophical he is so on point with his dissection of the lives of these little creatures in relation to God. I had to share a few things I’ve found freedom in after reading it. It’s major premise is in looking to the Lily and the Bird as a teacher and finding , silence, obedience and joy.
The silence comes not just because they can’t speak but because they realize that God’s Kingdome is the only thing to seek. In seeking God’s will first and always they master silence, which is what they embody where as for us humans, it is an art to be silent. We often come to God with the how, what, and why’s; instead of just being before him in silence.
“What is it that I must do, what sort of effort is it of which it can be said that the Kingdome has been sought first? In a certain sense there is nothing. You shall in the deepest sense make yourself nothing, become nothing before God, learn to keep silent.”
– The Lily of the Field and the bird of the air by Soren Kierkegaard
Obedience is the lily and the bird’s assurance that God’s will be done. No matter the length of the life for the Lily or the sorrows and struggles of the bird, they are unconditionally obedient to God’s will on earth; Just as the Lord’s prayer says, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” There is no ambivalence when in comes to their “today” they do not worry about tomorrow because today they abide in the Lord and must look no further for anything else.
“In nature everything is unconditional obedience; his will is done because everything obeys him unconditionally, because there is no other will than his in heaven and on earth.”
-The Lily of the field and the bird of the air by Soren Keirkegaard
Which brings us to Joy, the bird and the Lily are Joy; they have no conditions on “how or when or what ” will arise in their lives and that is precisely where their full joy comes from. Every care they have is put upon the Lord and because of that they rejoice. So often our joy in conditional on our circumstances and unless we cast all of our sorrows on the Lord we will not experience true joy and we will inevitably forget to rejoice in God.
“Learn, therefore, from the lily and the bird. Cast all your sorrow upon God, entirely, unconditionally, as the lily and the bird do: then you will become unconditionally joyful like the lily and the bird.
-The Lily of the field and the bird of the air by Soren Kierkegaard
So, with silence, obedience and with Joy we find that the Kingdom of God can be sought first. The reoccurring word before all of these things that I noticed was “unconditionally”. We so often create conditions in which to worship or ask or experience God under and that ; “the conditions” are what get in the way of our freedom in Christ. We have freedom from the conditions of this world.
May we never look at a lily or a bird the same again. May they always be our reminders of seeking the Kingdom of God first; in unconditional silence, unconditional obedience, and unconditional joy!
Sincerely,
Jesie Browning
Dear Sister, 