No Longer Babies

But still can't feed themselves 

I saw this and realized I had never thought about the transition from being a baby bird fed by adults to being a self-sufficient bird who feeds himself. It’s a sweet and sad image. 

But it also got me thinking. This represents a system that has temporarily handicapped the bird. By having everything done and every need met, the young bird has no idea how to meet its own needs. I would guess there were some frustrating and hungry moments while he was learning to fend for himself. 

I’ve known some people like this bird. Handicapped by adults who did everything, provided everything, protected from everything…leaving them helpless when they reach adulthood. They walk around still expecting to be handed everything with very little effort on their part. Some of them learn quickly. Others go “hungry”for a good bit longer. 

And then I thought about scripture when Paul tells us that we should stop feeding on milk and desire meat. Babies live off milk. It is provided by others. A baby is at the mercy of whoever is feeding it - how much, what kind, what environment. Some Christians receive all of their biblical knowledge from the milk offered by others. Small doses based on the topics of interest controlled by others. Slow or stagnant growth confined to spaces with slow or stagnant growth. 

 And when meat is presented, they still expect to be fed, rather than to feed themselves. They do not know how to be nourished on anything else. They do not yet know how to hunt for the meat themselves. They see it. They desire it. But they cannot yet figure out how to obtain it. All because they were handicapped by being fed by others too long.

Our season of being babies - in our families or in our faith - is a short season. Shorter than any other season in our life. It is meant to be a temporary situation rather than a permanent station. And while we all eventually outgrow milk for meat in our physical bodies, it is not always guaranteed that we outgrow milk for meat in our spiritual bodies. 

If you are still wandering around making others feed you, start hunting. 

If you are still feeding others who should already be feeding themselves, let them fly and look for new babies to tend.