My nearly 15 year old grandson, Steve, and I were hanging out today. I rotate through the grandkids and try to spend an afternoon each week with one of them. As we left his home, he said that he knew why I liked to spend time with them. With a twinkle in his eye he said, “It’s so you’ll have something to write about up on ‘Inside Out’!”

We had several choices today. We decided to drive out to Ken Thompson Park and visit the Pelican Man’s Bird Sanctuary. About thirteen years ago, a gentleman from this area, Dale Shields, started collecting mostly pelicans which had been injured. In spite of some severe health problems, Mr. Shields has spearheaded a unique and comprehensive center for housing birds that can’t be returned to the wild and rehabilitating those who can be set free. He was selected as one of President Bush’s 1,000 Points of Light.

It had been quite awhile since I’d visited the Bird Sanctuary. Once through the little entry building, where we were warmly welcomed and given an opportunity to make a small donation toward the upkeep of the place, we went inside. As we moved from cage to cage, I was struck with the beauty of the birds inside. There were barred owls and barn owls, gulls, egrets, crows, ospreys, eagles, hawks, herons of all description, pelicans, and even a rare and endangered palliated woodpecker. If you’ve never seen an 18 inch long woodpecker, you’ve never seen a REAL woodpecker!

There were volunteers everywhere. People in this area really care about our injured wildlife. I frequently see one of Mr. Shields’ trucks around the county, picking up injured birds.

I was intrigued to see all the visitors. Not people visitors, mind you, but bird visitors. There were several crows, gulls, herons, and egrets standing around OUTSIDE the cages. I couldn’t quite figure out if they were there to gloat about the fact that they were totally free and the other birds weren’t OR they were there to commiserate and encourage those who were on the inside looking out. Because birds generally lack some of our worst human traits, I believe they were there to lift up the spirits of their friends in bondage.

Among the neat, recurring themes of the Bible are the “one anothers”. In Mark 9:50, we’re told to have peace with one another. In John 13:34, we’re told to love one another. Romans 12:5 reminds us that each member belongs to the others. Rom. 12:10 instructs us to be devoted to one another in brotherly love AND honor one another above ourselves. In Rom. 12:16, we’re instructed to live in harmony with one another. In other verses, we’re taught to comfort one another, encourage one another, and accept one another. There is teaching that tells not to judge one another, and even to submit to one another.

Now, I don’t claim that these birds were practicing all these fine Christian principles. However, they did seem to be there for some purpose. They couldn’t steal food from the caged birds, that’s for sure. So, why were they there? I’m going to choose to believe that they were there, as one of God’s fellow creatures, to provide companionship, encouragement, and hope.

I’ve been around lots of human rehabilitation centers over the years. I’ve often seen these damaged, rejected members of the human race overlooked, left out, and forgotten. I’ve also seen many of my fellow human beings reach out with love and compassion to those wounded by life in one way or another.

I’m given a choice. I choose to be like the birds I saw today. Even if I can’t restore everybody to whom I’m called to minister to total and flawless condition, I can, at the very least, hang in there with them and help them become all they can be!

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