BUZZARDS

I manage the Facebook page for Urbana Yoke Parish and Monday’s post is called Monday Hodgepodge.  That post can be anything from a cartoon to information about buzzards.  Yes, you read that right:  buzzards.

What pops into your mind when you see a buzzard?  Maybe, “They are ugly.” or “They eat dead animals.”  You would be right on both thoughts, but did you also know:

• Around the world, there are 23 vulture species.
• They have weak feet and legs and cannot carry prey away.
• Lacking a syrinx, New World vultures are nearly silent.
• In hot weather, vultures pee on their legs to cool off.

If you are still reading this, I am really proud of you.  Here is a question for you:  Is it a Buzzard or a Vulture?  If you can tell the difference, you are for sure a birder.  (A birder is a person who spends time watching and documenting bird species.)  There is a difference though.  Vultures are large, bald birds that sniff out dead animals and then have lunch.  Buzzards are smaller than vultures and prefer to hunt, attack, and eat their prey, but they will have an afternoon snack on road kill.  The truth is you may call them whatever you want.  Early colonists saw those birds flying around and assumed they were buzzards like they had back home.  Since there was no internet, they could not access Google to see if there was a difference.  Therefore, the bird is called buzzard by everyone except a Master Birder.  (Yes, after an enormous amount of study, you can be certified as a Master Birder.)

THIS IS INTERESTING, BUT WHAT IS THE POINT?

Genesis 1:20 tells us that God created birds to fly above the earth.  God created the vulture and, although they have a foul reputation, they do serve an important function in God’s creation and His Word.  They pluck out eyes, gather around a carcass, and find plenty to eat in the Book of Revelation.  And ….

YET!  Have you ever watched a buzzard fly?  Have you watched them spread their wings, catch a current, and gracefully rise higher and higher?  Have you watched in the evening?  First one will fly over.  Then another.  Then another.  Buzzards are very social birds.  Another buzzard joins the three.  And they head home.

Yes, buzzards are hard on the eyes.  They eat dead stuff.  Their vomit stinks and is used to ward off anyone who gets too close.  And …

Sinners are hard on the eyes.  Their actions are against the Word of God.  What comes out of their mouths is spewed to ward off anyone trying to get too close.  And …

YET!  Have you ever watched a sinner after they find Jesus?  Have you watched them spread their wings and catch the Spirit, as they gracefully rise higher and higher?  Have you ever watched on a Sunday morning, as one walks in the door of the church?  And then another.  And then another.  Forgiven sinners are very social.  Another joins the three.  And they are in the Lord’s House of Prayer.

I guess we are like buzzards.  We – each of us - serve an important function in God’s creation and His Word.