A Different Kind of Twitter

I don’t know how well you remember the movie Bambi. It may be etched in the vague recesses of your mind, or it may be a staple in your home. Recall, if you can, one of the opening scenes where spring has sprung and wise old owl describes the birds as “twitter-pated”. I’ve noticed that lately too. Between the fat spring raindrops, the birds are flying about in crazy aerobatics that can only be described as the dance of the twitter-pated. It’s amazing, really, if you stop to watch the precision of two birds in flight at this time of year. They move with awe-inspiring velocity in loops and twirls, separated by mere inches, anticipating each other’s course corrections with such speed that it is impossible to tell which one is leading and which one is following.

As I make my way further and further through the book of Ephesians I can see Paul’s hope for the church in the dance of the twitter-pated. Paul writes:
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:3-6

What would it look like if the Body – the Church – moved as if it were united by one Spirit and ceased striving against one another? What kind of spectacle would we create if we were in fact moving toward one hope through one faith? What if we became soaked with one baptism – marinated and dyed through-and- through until there was nothing to distinguish one from another? What if we collectively, simultaneously bent our knee to the one God and Father? It would look as if we were twitter-pated birds in a flight of unbridled joy to the praise of the One who created us. Selah.

Look around your house of worship and consider the dance of spring. The Passover Lamb has been slain and new life is rising up declaring again the glory of the Lord. Wouldn’t it be fitting to renew your heart and allow it to be constrained by love so that you can join in the dance of the twitter-pated – that whirling, twirling, breathless flight of harmonious symphony that is the fellowship of the Body? I pray that He will breathe on you and that you will take flight!

Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " Ezekiel 37:9