Hummingbirds are smarter than most people think. With the right amount of human patience, a hummingbird can learn to feed from a tiny hand feeder.
I think the same hummingbird visits my large feeder each year. I call him Yip. Hummingbirds travel up to 5,000 miles when they migrate. Remarkably, they can return to the same feeders and flowers because of their sharp spatial memories. I recently bought a hand-held feeder. I hope that I can train Yip to come to it.
I learn lessons from my winsome, fluttering friend relative to personal ministry. Like hummingbirds, people crave safety and nourishment. People seek safe people to help them grow toward God. God is safe, “…He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God and I trust him,” (Psalm 91:2). Only by dwelling with Him, am I able to become a safe person.
Characteristics needed to train hummingbirds are also needed in ministry. Hummingbirds recognize the person, and voice of the person, who takes care of the feeders. Likewise, a hurting person will identify someone who reliably avails himself to others in kindness.
It is vital to be aware of the hummingbird’s habits, watching and listening. In ministry, listening is crucial. When I get listening right, I am quiet and withhold unsolicited advice. Billy Graham wisely said, “It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge and my job to love.”
Jesus’ earthly ministry provided refuge to the unseen, forgotten, and mistreated. A woman seeking a friend will need to trust me and know that her very soul is safe in my presence. Likewise, Yip will need to know and trust me before he is comfortable feeding from my hand feeder.
By: Leah Burnett
~ Christ Fellowship