In the oil spill's wake: My prayer for the wildlife

While the 23rd Psalm is probably most commonly used to help and comfort people, it’s actually a perfect prayer for the migrating wildlife wending its way now to the breeding grounds near the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Some background: Experts predict large numbers of tuna, birds, and turtles will die because they are following ingrained migrating patterns that take them directly to this dangerous area.

But the 23rd Psalm points to a deeper guidance system—that “the Lord” is the intelligence behind the movements of His creation. Instead of programmed biological habits, a living Principle, God, undergirds and causes the actions of His creation. In Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, she writes, “Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way” (p. 454 ). Love is another name for God.

The Psalmist actually illustrates this active, living wisdom when he describes the Shepherd leading His sheep to water.

Evidently, sheep won’t drink and will go thirsty if their drinking water is too splashy, because their noses are close to their mouths. Well, shepherds knows this and make adjustments.

In the context of the psalm, God leads His flock to “still waters.” And they drink. As though to reinforce the point behind this imagery, the Psalmist adds, “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.” And by the way, couldn’t that sentence also describe divinely directed migrating patterns?

Even the next sentence, “He restoreth my soul,” could refer to God’s constant preservation of energy, strength, and identity. And, when things look bleak, the psalm affirms: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” What further assurance do we need that even when things look dangerous, God, infinite Love, is there, actively, intelligently preserving life and goodness -- perhaps in ways one could not imagine!

When I was a child, Barnaby, our family’s small pet parakeet, flew out the front door of a mountain cabin we’d rented for the summer. We were dismayed, and so was she. The great outdoors was something this household pet had never experienced, and it disoriented her so much that she flew to the highest branch she could get to - way beyond where my father could climb!

We called and whistled and tried luring Barnaby down with delicious food. Hours passed. Nothing worked, and it was getting dark. A couple of hawks noticed our commotion and began circling. My sister and I were in anguish! Mom began to pray deeply. Barnaby, more confused, tried to come down but instead flew to a higher branch. Apparently, instincts tell birds to fly up, away from perceived danger, not down. Night fell.

Reluctantly, we went inside, wondering if the hawks, now perched in the pines, would make their deadly moves. Oh, how we prayed to feel that God’s presence was right there with our beloved pet! We prayed to see that God loved Barnaby and wouldn’t let anything bad happen to her—that even predatory birds couldn’t actually penetrate the power and the love of God. That we were all in God’s embrace and God was talking to Barnaby in a way she could understand, and to us, too. God would work this out and we would have time.

At daybreak, Dad ran back outside whistling Barnaby’s favorite whistle. And she responded! But this time, from a different tree, one much lower and that Dad could climb. How had she managed to fly at night and counteract her bird instincts by flying down not up? I felt this was the power and love of God operating on her behalf. Dad chirped at her as he climbed up this low-slung pine and eventually wrapped a gentle hand around her body and tucked her into his shirt - a trick he’d taught her when she was young. He climbed back down and brought her home. What a joyous breakfast that was - complete with blueberry pancakes and even some for Barnaby.

The spiritual truths in the Bible apply to all living things -- animals, fish, and plants -- as well as humans. Let’s lift our thoughts to the divine living promise of the 23rd Psalm and see as Jesus said, “with God all things are possible” (Matt 19:26 ).