Pigeons. They’re everywhere in Chicago. Whether it’s summer, autumn, winter, or spring, you can’t walk more than a block without seeing lots of pigeons. I don’t know any statistics about this, but from my observation, pigeons have to outnumber people in this city.
These birds are also known as “feral pigeons.” A more complimentary name for them is “Rock Doves”–not to be confused with “Stock Doves.” They are also commonly disparaged as “flying rats” and called by some other unflattering names that I’ll omit here in the interest of good taste.
Yes, these birds can be a nuisance. They make a mess. They commonly drop some foul “gifts” on us earthbound humans at the worst times, like when we’re getting off the bus near home after a really stressful day, or are wearing our best clothes for an important business meeting.
They’re loud. During the mating season (which sometimes seems to last all year), they congregate outside my office window, cooing feverishly as they walk around with crazed, lovesick eyes. Often their cooing is loud enough that it’s difficult to have a telephone conversation, even when I have my window closed.
The pigeons are also very bold. They strut around with a self-importance that seems almost human. They will stand in a man’s path, apparently expecting him to get out of their way. Hurried businessmen and downtown commuters don’t faze these birds. On the other hand, a toddler running toward them will send them hurrying up into the sky for dear life.
They congregate in large gatherings that make Sunday football games seem sparsely attended by comparison. If you see one pigeon, you’ll likely see a few hundred of his closest relatives and friends.
Yes, we human beings have a lot of complaints about pigeons. Even so, I’ve always found them really interesting to watch. Of course, I prefer that they not fly over me, my car, my motorcycle, or my notebook computer, but if they are flying elsewhere or walking around, I like to observe them.
“Why?” you may ask. “Has Steve lost his mind…again? Isn’t he taking some of this meditation stuff just a little too seriously?”
Before you dismiss my comments as the rantings of a madman, I’d like you to consider a few points. (My comments may very well be the rantings of a madman. I’m just asking you to think about a few things before you reach that conclusion.)
First, take a look at those pigeons. Look at them closely. (No, you don’t have to touch them.) What are they doing? 99 times out of 100, they’re eating. Yes, eating. (The other 1 time they are mating, but they do the deed quickly and then resume eating.) Those birds find food everywhere. Everywhere!
Second, out of all the pigeons you’ve seen in your life–the number of them probably has more than 7 digits–how many have been skinny? One? Two? A half dozen at most? The precise figure doesn’t matter. My point is simple: Those pigeons are eating, and they’re eating often and eating a lot. There is apparently no shortage of food for them. They go out and look for it and they find it. No fuss, no mess (well, probably a lot of mess, actually), and maybe just a little bit of smell, and the feast is served.
Third, it’s all about attitude, right? No matter what is happening around them, these birds have attitude. Look again at how they carry themselves. Do they shrink away from the sunlight, holding their heads low in shame, disappointment, or indifference? No! On the contrary, they hold their heads high. They strut around like they own the whole place–all of it. They exude confidence. These birds know who they are.
Do the pigeons look like they are stressed out about their jobs? Are they obsessing over their investment portfolios? Do they look concerned about terrorism or war? No, no, and no. Do they look happy? Yes, they do. They look happy and content, peacefully living in the present moment. They know who they are and they are doing their thing on this planet and somehow, without any plotting, scheming, or contriving on their parts, it all seems to work just fine.
These days when I see the pigeons in Chicago, I like to think of one of my favorite teachings from the Sermon on the Mount. I’ll quote it here from the King James (Authorized) Version.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:25-34 (KJV)
Today, in the twenty-first century, as I walk down the noisy urban streets of my hometown, the Jesus who speaks to me uses language that’s a bit more familiar. He says something like:
Listen, Steve, don’t worry about your life. Don’t worry about having enough food. Don’t worry about your body or the clothing you‘ll wear either. Think about it, man. Isn’t life more than just your body? Isn’t your body worth more to you than your clothes? Don’t just take my word for it. Have a look at those pigeons over there. Do they go to school, get jobs, and worry about retirement? No, of course not, but your heavenly Father still feeds them. If He takes care of those pigeons so well, don’t you think He’ll do at least as much same for you?
We can learn a lot from the pigeons. These birds that everyone seems to love to hate have a lot of wisdom. They are modern messengers of the Gospel, the Good News. We need only wake up, open our eyes, and see them.
