Under the Wings

by Graeme Codrington

It has recently been brought to my attention that the following story actually falls into the category of "urban legend". Pity - its a great motivational piece. I'll leave it up, and you decide. For more details, see http://www.snopes2.com/glurge/birdwing.htm.

An article in National Geographic several years ago provided a penetrating picture of God's wings. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began their trek up a mountain to assess the inferno's damage. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree.

Somewhat sickened by the eerie sight, he knocked over the bird with a stick. When he struck it, three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother's wings. The loving mother, keenly aware of impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had singed her small body, the mother had remained steadfast. Because she had been willing to die, those under the cover of her wings would live.

The Bible often refers to God protecting us, and sometimes uses this illustration of a bird protecting her young.