That’s NOT a Hummingbird

That is NOT a hummingbird. He’s trying to fool me, I know. But I had suspicions right away. For instance, I’ve never heard a Hummingbird make such a loud, raspy noise. And his colors are all wrong. And he’s too big. And when he tried to hover in the air, like a Hummingbird can do, he dropped like rock. This, my friends, is an imposter. I don’t even know if he’s legally in the state. I once saw a bird very much like this one in New Mexico. I wonder.

But, you know what: he was very thirsty. In fact, he almost emptied the feeder. And all he wanted was a drink. Right there, in the midst of my stealthy observation of this stranger, I remembered the phrase “cup of cold water in my name…” Feed the hungry, give your coat to the one who is cold, break down walls that separate, treat everyone the way you want to be treated, welcome Woodpeckers to your Hummingbird feeder. On and on he goes, the Voice that turns out to be a better host than me. I’ve written before about Hospitality as a fundamental virtue of The Way of Christ, a bowl-and-towel perspective. Some would say that this big, noisy bird on my Hummingbird feeder was a sign or a divine message. I think he was just a thirsty neighbor passing by. Here, let me refill it for you.