I don’t like birds. In fact, I’m pretty scared and weirded out by them. So when I say “I watched this amazing documentary about American Wild Turkeys”, you’ve got to believe me – it’s really compelling!
Just watch the opening minute and tell me you’re not charmed by the gentleness and curiousness of it all. I think it’s available to view on iPlayer for the next two weeks. I highly recommend it!
The gist is this: a man becomes mum to a family of endangered turkeys and raises them, follows them and cares for them for a year. His life stops while he lives to bring them up.
The strangest thing is how much it made me think about my life! There is a beautiful two minute section (watch from 41.30) which talks about how turkeys live in the moment. The man living with them says this:
They (the turkeys) are convinced that everything they need - all their needs – will be met only in the present moment and in this place. The world’s not better half a mile through the woods, it’s not better an hour from now and it’s not better tomorrow. This is as good as it gets.
I’m rarely satisfied with the moment. Even when I’m cuddling my children, I’m often thinking about the washing I could be doing or what’s next on the to-do list.
It reminded me of Jesus talking about worry and made me understand more clearly why he says not to worry about tomorrow. So often my worry about tomorrow means I’m not grateful for today. My fear of an uncertain future distracts me from appreciating the stability of the present. Even when the present doesn’t feel terribly secure – at least it’s real! That’s far more worthy of my energy and thought than an imagined future.
I’ll still write to-do lists (I might rename it a ‘ta-da!’ list to make it less boring) and I’ll still put dates in the diary but I want to appreciate the day God has given me and not fret about the future God has wisely kept to himself.
I hope this will grow in me contentment, a greater enjoyment of simplicity, appreciation of people above things and a greater joy in the life God has given me.
I need this reminder so desperately after wishing away much of the summer holiday because it was so tough and after worrying and wondering about elements of our future which are out of our control.
I hope Jesus doesn’t mind that instead of looking to the sparrows, I’m looking to the American Wild Turkeys. And I hope that imitating them makes me cling more tightly to him.
photo credit – the times
Love this, and needed to hear it. Thankyou for your wise words Alice! xxx
Nicely put, Alice!
I guess John Stott was on to something with his interest in bird-watching too – it’s amazing how there are reminders like that around us in the natural world, if only we paid attention properly!
Much appreciated for the information and share!
I turned on My Life as a Turkey by accident while flicking through the channels to find something to watch while I eat my toast. The second I saw it and heard Joe Hutto talking of his account with the Turkeys, I was completely hooked. I felt moved and compelled by it all. It was amazing.
I watched this by accident too and it was the most amazing documentary I have watched although I cried so much I still find it hard that nature is so sad
Alice…great observations!!! I just watched this documentary tonight for the first time and came to the same conclusions!!! Great life lessons and illustrates why Native Americans were so at peace with nature and God. I too thought of the same scripture when I heard that quote. Time to simplify my life and live each day to the fullest…and to appreciate what God has given me. No worries!!!
Matthew 6:26-34…”26 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. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”