As some reading this know, I am not only an ordained pastor, but I am also a licensed professional counselor in North Carolina. I went back to school after having been a pastor for several years believing that I could be a better pastor if I got more training in counseling. I wound up not only getting my counseling degree, but my counseling licensure. I have to renew my license every two years and am glad to have completed it again.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 500,000 mental health professionals in the United States. Of course, there are some others (like clergy) who find themselves doing counseling in their duties. I am grateful for those who do counseling. I and members of my family certainly have benefeitted from their skills and their compassion.
As some of you know, my home has a number of bird feeders. We enjoy watching the birds as they come near. Despite the fact there are many mental health professionals across this country, I recently discovered in a google search that there are few, if any, bird counselors. Now, there are some counselors and mental health professionals who have Bird in their name. There are also some articles written about bird psychology. There are over half a million million mental health professionals in this country, but few (if any) counselors for the birds.
I discovered the answer (as I often do) in the words of the scriptures. Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 6:25-27 where he says: Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Perhaps I need to spend more time not just looking at the birds but seeking to be like them. Let me end with this poem written by Elizabeth Cheney. See below. Have a joy-filled week.- Randy Wall
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