This week’s bright light blog, is written by David Goldsmith, a retired high school senior master, and my supportive husband.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly freely in the sky, just like birds do? At one time a little bird, that I called Fred, helped me learn about feeling free. Fred was a small Australian bird known as a honey-eater. One summer he made my backyard his home. Every day he would fly into the garden and sit in a bottlebrush tree. As he sipped the nectar from the flowers, he’d give a happy, noisy greeting. It was as if he was telling everyone around, “Look at me. Nothing can stop me from being happy and free.”
Fred’s cheerful singing reminded me of a saying in the Bible that’s one of my favourites – “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”. “Liberty” is a word that means being free. So Fred’s actions reminded me that wherever God is – and God is everywhere – He’s keeping me – and everyone else, safe and free from any hurt. These thoughts were very helpful to me a few weeks later.
One sunny afternoon, I climbed up a tall ladder to get to the top of a big tree in the garden. When I stretched out to reach one of the tree’s high branches the ladder tipped over. I fell backwards to the ground and hit my head hard. For a little while I just lay there. I couldn’t believe that I’d fallen off the ladder! Then my head started to hurt. All I wanted at that moment was to be free from pain.
As I stared up at the blue sky above me, I thought of Fred’s visits to the garden. It helped me to remember something I’d read in Mary Baker Eddy’s book Science and Health: “God made man free.” (p. 227). So I prayed and said to myself, “Thank You Father-Mother that You made me free from accident and injury. Your love is always present with me.” Right away I just knew that God was looking after me. I was safe in God’s care. I couldn’t be hurt. God had made me free from accident, injury and pain. I had the spiritual freedom to be happy and well. Nothing could stop me. It wasn’t long before my head stopped hurting.
Soon I felt so completely free and cared for by God, that I picked up the ladder and climbed it once more. I had a really good time climbing about in the branches of the big tree that afternoon. That night as I went off to sleep, I realized that my head hadn’t bothered me since the fall. There was no big bump and no scratches or bruises. I felt quite OK and I stayed that way!
There’s one more thing I’d like to tell you about my little feathered friend. Fred used to wake up very early in the morning, just as the sun was rising in the sky. His bird-song was like a little tinkling bell. It was as if he was singing, “Wake up to the beauty of the sunrise. It’s free!” His joyful song reminded me that God gives His love freely to me and to everyone. No one is left out. Everybody can be happy, safe and cared for all the time. They can feel free. Just like Fred!
My Bright Lights posts feature posts from guests who like sharing ideas about health trends or the connection between spirituality and health. I’m looking for bright lights – guest bloggers. So if you’re seeing the connection between your health and your spiritual practice, you could be the perfect “bright light.” If you’d like to contribute to these weekly Bright Lights posts, ask for some simple tips, or email your draft to me at: s(hyphen)wau(at)compub(dot)org with “Bright Lights submission” in the subject line. Or contact me using the CONTACT page.
I’m a professional Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher. Through my prayer-based practice, I help people find happiness, health and healing.
Wendy says
David, thank you for your inspirational writing. It reminds me of the sweet simplicity that spiritual healing can bring.
Carol says
Thank you, Beverly for posting David’s lovely story about Fred. It touched me. Each day I take time to watch, listen to and learn lessons from the many birds who share our yard. It’s all so simple and natural.
Beverly says
It was a great pleasure Carol for me to post David’s guest blog. Glad you liked it. “Fred” was quite a character and very friendly. He expressed no fear at all. That was something that helped me when I found David flat on his back after falling off a rather tall ladder. As I prayed, fear for David’s wellbeing was replaced with a sense of certainty that he was safe in God’s powerful care – especially when he proceeded to climb the ladder again!
Susan says
Thank you David and Beverly for this warm and thoughtful story. Birds have always been special for our family as our son has been an active bird watcher since childhood. Now he has a blog about the birds in his area, and has passed on his interest to his little son.
My own favourite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31 where we are told that if we ‘…wait upon the Lord’, we can ‘…mount up with wings as eagles’ and that He will make us free.
Beverly says
Hello Susan, David and I are glad you left a comment about his experience and our backyard visitor, “Fred”. It is so good to know that your son and his little boy find inspiration and enjoyment from watching birds in your area. That Bible verse you mention is such a great reminder of the spiritual strength we have to cope with daily life. Thanks for stopping by. Hope you’ll be back and leave another comment or two.