“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20a ESV).
While Virginia is under quarantine, Trinity Episcopal, where I work, has chosen to prerecord worship services. I studied Adobe Premiere Pro and how to use my cell phone for filming exactly a year ago. So although my skills were rusty, I took on the challenge. We are now on the fifth video with probably five more to go. I told the priest I was running out of new bushes and trees to film for the opening scenes. This past week I decided to step up my game and attempt to record the birds and squirrels scampering about the churchyard.
The birds seemed to prefer treetops over lower hanging branches, and although I was the only person around, they seemed well aware of my normally unassuming presence. I tried to walk slow and quiet, a difficult goal for me as Ryan will tell you I tend to clomp around the house. Unfortunately by the time I arranged the tripod, the birds flew away! Squirrels were different but not a lot better. I set up to capture one sitting on the roof of the office building. She pretended to be a little statue, not the most interesting thing to watch. Suddenly she rushed away as if I wanted to shoot her with something other than a camera.
My enthusiasm was dwindling and my heart was set more on lunch than continuing to stand unsuccessful among the gravestones. Then I noticed a robin who didn’t act like the rest. He was more interested in all the goodies on the ground than me. I managed to get fairly close, get the camera set up and film him for several minutes. It really was amazing that he didn’t seem to care that I was there, he just went along doing business as usual (I uploaded the video of him to YouTube! Also check out the squirrel video).
I wonder if we are like that? Do we act the same when we know people are watching? If I know someone is looking, I am much more careful in what I choose to say and do. More than once I’ve replied to a work text message only to realize later that it was copied to all the staff. I’m so thankful that I didn’t say anything embarrassing or not nice! God wants us to live boldly in Him like this robin. He doesn’t want us to live in anxiety, afraid to live our lives for fear of doing wrong. If we allow Jesus to live in us and to change our hearts, then our speech and actions will mimic Him whether we are around intimate friends or in front of a crowd. “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8 ESV).