Migrating is Christ-like

by Heather Tietz

I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah. “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”

Psalm 55:6-8

Not all, but many birds need an escape from the distress of winter. Wind, storm, cold makes foraging for food difficult. Doves, like many other birds, fly toward warmer climates.

We have winters in our lives. Even Jesus did. There were moments when He sought out time alone with His Father. He was often inundated with crowds, questions, and expectations. He needed time away. Sometimes He left physically. He walked up a mountain or stayed ashore while His friends went ahead. Other times He stayed where He was, but He nestled under the Father’s wings in prayer.

If you’ve ever felt the burning desire to run away, to escape, to fly to a restful place, you are in good company. Elijah ran away from an evil queen and king. Jacob ran away from his angry brother. Moses ran away from Egypt after he’d accidentally killed an Egyptian. For years, David ran away from his best friend’s father, Saul. Sometimes, we too, need rest from the chaos around us. We need rest daily. We need it weekly. We need it in abundance throughout the year.

Migration, though, is a two-way flight. What goes must come back. Jesus always returned. Birds always find their way back home. Don’t be ashamed to want rest. If you can, escape to a quiet place. If you can’t physically leave, bury yourself in prayer. Then once you are filled, return with new peace to share.