That Awky-Sounding Bird

Last night in church I heard about an awky-sounding bird,
Which has a massive wingspan and to most seems quite absurd;
He said he was canoeing with a fellow in the bow,
Who was First Nations, hence he knew that awky-sound and how –

The birds who make it fly around in circles rising high,
Until they vanish from our sight, up in the clear blue sky;
When in the upper atmosphere where jet-stream flows aloft,
They catch those upper currents, set their wings, and they are off.

I love that image of a way of circling around for height,
Creative use of wingspan and the principles of flight;
For in my work I circle round, and round, year after year,
And now I understand so much and see God’s ways made clear.

The Cranes, for that’s the awky-bird, if you must know it’s name,
Have given me an image for the work for which I came:
To show folks how, by circling ’round and gaining altitude,
They too can rise above the fray and soar with gratitude.

I think of Robert Law, a man who wrote about First John –
He’d finished up a church career, ’twas time for moving on;
Approached a little Kirk one day and said, “Let’s do a deal –
I’ll tend your flock – in my spare time let’s shift from “I’ll” to “we’ll” –

We’ll make a contribution to the wider church today;
My thoughts about First John are new, I’ve heard no others say
How John is like that awky-Bird that circles still today,
Attaining height till upper drafts sweep it along its way.

The congregation said, “All right!” and walked with heads held high
They freed him up to do his work, heard “we” instead of “I” –
“We’re giving life to larger church, as we fly round and round,
And like those birds gain altitude, with awkward awky-sound.

“Some day perhaps this book will give some Christian far away,
An insight to the heart of God, enhance the Kingdom’s day;
And all because we helped a man write up a book for all,
A vision of a circled way to rise to heights from small.”

So Robert wrote his precious book, the best about First John;
He shared its spiraled structure, rising as it goes along;
“Three tests of life” the focus of John’s thoughts for you and me,
By which we can reflect on life, our Christian progress see.

Each spiral speaks of righteousness, of love, and of belief;
John says if we profess our faith, yet shun away from these,
We do not fly, nor rise above this basic life on earth,
And need to spread our wings and rise above just second birth.

First cycle’s image (that of light) enlightens our first flight;
We can’t in darkness thus remain – we rise above the night;
For we rise up and greet the dawn, for ‘God is light’, says John;
Our righteousness, belief, and love enrich us with their song.

The second cycle like those Cranes who cycle up from ground,
Is centered on an image (second birth) in this new round.
Claim “born-again”? Well, check it out, says John as you fly higher –
If love, belief, and righteousness are seen, you’re not a liar.

Third cycle is quite different, though the themes are just the same:
Like ever-rising cycles brings new atmosphere for Cranes,
And there, where drafts now carry birds to far off destinies,
Life integrates, new purpose seen, they soar along with ease.

Third cycle shows relationships between these three great themes,
Reflecting how they each hook up, enhancing what each means;
When we stand back and watch the Cranes rise up with awky-sound,
Our hearts are lifted, like First John, fresh hope in us abounds.

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