One Friday we received some much-needed rain—1.8 inches in just a couple hours; it was a downpour.
The following day, to my dismay, I noticed that Robin’s nest had been knocked out of my crabapple tree. I was saddened to see three unhatched eggs on the ground. They had been deserted; it was too late to do anything about it.
(Even had I discovered them right away, the chance of keeping them warm enough to hatch would have been a long shot, not to mention nurturing them if they hatched.)
Interestingly, the nest was intact. The problem was that it wasn’t adequately anchored to the tree. I could see where it once was attached and though it was at a “Y” it was surely not an optimal one.
Additionally, since Robins often lay eggs twice a year, these parents will need to build a second nest if they intend to try again.
As a nature lover, I derive great joy through the life of animals. Although dead animals are a real and natural part of nature, it is a side that I prefer to overlook. Yes, I know about natural selection and the survival of the fittest.
Unfortunately, these babies didn’t stand a chance because their parents didn’t build a stronger, better nest. It is a small consolation to know that this particular trait is being effectively removed from the gene pool.
The lesson in this is to be careful on what foundation we build—make sure it is a firm one. Rarely in the US does this have literal life and death ramifications, but in other parts of the world it does, primarily the third-world parts.
In other situations, the wrong foundation could be living in a bad neighborhood, sending your kids to an ineffective school, starting a business without a plan or enough capital, investing in a shaky opportunity, and so forth.
Just as with building bird nests, it is important that we find the right foundation and carefully build upon it. The consequences of not doing so can be dire.
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Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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