The Bird Is The Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … All things came into being through (the Word), and without (the Word) not one thing came into being. — John 1:1,3

Church camp was minutes away from ending. The co-counselor of our “family group” of twelve “Chi Rho” campers, all young teens, and I had just formed a circle and linked arms for the final prayer of our time together. Some campers prayed, some remained silent and simply squeezed the hand of the person next to them. Then we came to one camper, Winston, from this congregation, who offered his prayer and then added, for humorous effect, “The bird is the word.” As Winston had intended, we laughed and smiled. We adults probably smiled as we remembered the odd rock-and-roll lyric from 1963 by the Trashmen, a ditty called “Surfin’ Bird.” The younger ones among us had probably heard it sung on an episode of “Family Guy,” a popular animated cartoon show on TV. And then we finished our prayer.

The hand squeezes came back to me, and suddenly I felt new words come into my head, as if from God: “Yes, the bird IS the Word, and the trees are the Word, and the grass is the Word and the air is the Word.” (“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!” is how the last Psalm, number 150, wraps it up.)

At First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Trenton, we have many opportunities to proclaim that God’s Word is, indeed, everywhere and is always with us. Our “Blessing of the Backpacks” (on August 14) will remind children and adults alike that The Word goes with us when we go back to school. Our Global Mission Partner, Elana Huegel, may tell us (on August 24) how the Chilean people with whom she is privileged to serve found The Word was with them after the tsunami of 2010 that stuck the Chilean coast. “Together Project” volunteers (the week of August 13-21) will discover that The Word is in the hammer and the saw and the electric drill of the Habitat blitz build. Summer travelers find The Word is still with them as they travel and when they arrive.

Indeed, the psalmist was right: You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? — Psalm 139:3,4,7

I look forward to our greeting the Word together in the places where we share ministry!

Paul