The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-09-24
SATURDAY NIGHT
SERNoNS
Vs. BY
= REXSAMUEI.
q W.pURVIS.DD
THE BIRDS OF THE AIR.

There must be q gospel of things.
Christ seemed to be forever finding les
Hons in objects about him. The impE-
ration is that we, too. ought to draw
lessons from all we see and hear. Like
the bee that can gather honey from IN.
flower. we ought to gather wisdom
from every source As Il mirror gives
back our image. so all mHterial things.
cloud, leaf. tree. floating atom Of dust
In sunshine, flying worlds glowing in
evening sky, give back to us meanings
anu speak to US in parablcs-the sun
an emblem of the Sun of Righteous
ness, rock Of Gods eternity, withered
leaf emblem of human life as it fades,
Christ says, Behold the hirGs of the
air. And of all living creatures they
seem more like spiritual beings. crea
lures of earth and heaven. lowering be
tween the two. There is II fascination
in study of their habits and bodily
structure. They are to the aninEl
world what flowers are to the vege
table precious stones to the mineral.
what brilliant rainbow is to The dark.
ened sky Flower, perfume. singing
birds. urched bow, are added touches
OF nature from the fingers of Gods
love | like the birds freedom from
care. Whether migrating north or
south, it is with happy Voices of pill
griuls. Two homes have they. one here,
another there. Born into one. when
winter comes something calls them TO u
SUMMER cline. Get that, Christian
child of two worlds!
A Lesson In Faith.
Notice their brilliant robes All the
artists in the world couldn't equal in
dclicaey Of color peacock's feather or
silvery light about doves neck. Will
God not provide garments of immortal
splendor for the soul poised for. eternal
flight? Sometimes food is plentiful,
sometimes scarce. for the little song
sters. They chirp content on empty
stomach or full one. Recently. while
the snow was yet on the ground. | saw
my first robin of the season He bow
ed and chirruped with Il grace and All
tlacity and courage that seemed to say.
You may think it's winter. but know
better" looked all around and there
wasn't one living thing besides him
| self that gave evidence Chat spring
would ever come. The trees looked as
| lifeless as dead sticks. Not il bud was
/ swollen with hope or promise: not even
Il crocus bud dared to thrust its nose
through the cold earth AS ! walked
down the street my heart was lighter,
said: 'That robin redbreast knows
better than l if it is true that spring
| is near He has the faith to sing be-
| fore there is anything visible to sing
| about He secs the spring and summer
while it is yet cold and dark. Thank
| you, Mr.. Robin Rcdbreast. for your
| lesson of faith. | know that faith Is
the evidence of things not yet seen.
| The Wings of the Almighty.
David prayed to be kept under the
shadow of Gods wings. O yearniny
| heart of God. whatever is meant by
wing of mother bird-warmth, shelter.
| nearneSs of love-all Is realized for the
/ human soul under. the shadow Of the
wings of the Almighty Are we fleeing
from the justice of broken law! Get
| to the mercy seat. Covering before
! threatened storm of anguish? Make
for the secret place of the tabernacle
| Of the Most High Are we surrounded
| by strife of tongues? From that hell
to the hiding place under the shallow
of Gods wing That wing is slow to
| anger-slow as fight of crow. quick
to help as flight of swallow That
| wing is broad as eagles. strong as con-
doris. Not a sparrow faIleth,' says
the word. That means care See that
mother bird leave its nest? Deserving
its young? 1t is off to the berry bush.
the barn door. the plowed field Soon
she Is back. The fiutteiing feathers
are Stilled as the mother spreads ont
her wings God seems to leave you
for a time He'll return. Weeping
may endure the night: joy cametI in
| the morning"
behold the Birds Of the Heaven"
Behold them! They are up with the
flush Of dawn, busy with their tasks
nest making or food gathering They
| do not turn day into night and night
| into day. There are no drones anon.
them. Every grown bird must pick his
own living. All they ask is to be let
alone. pity the society folks" among
Us. Make me think of the little cana
| ries in their gilded cages. Men despise
the bat. half bird. half mouse--crea-
| ture neither of earth nor sky. like
the Christian holding Oh to earth and
heaven. | dislike the vultHre carbon
bird: fattens OH the careasses of the
dead. One thinks of gossipy folks who
! prey on character and feelings of 9th
ers. A few weeks ago Il hat crept into
my soul. morose, melancholy bird of
| the night. doleful and hideous. 1t was
some time before could drive him ont.
| and lark came in and sang. There's
sunshine in my soul today The dove
! is a sacrificial bird, like thetone which
vulture and hawk swooped down upon
at G0lg0tha It is emblem of the Holy
Spirit. The dove flies home Beside
bed of dying child yesterday saw soul
take its fight. the little grille spirit
poised like bird on sunset tipped tree
/ top, spirit wing fiuttered us she heard
~. n Of .lnsypI nOfl,pr hi,d IN, e,r sl;Sfanf