Blackbirds Baked in a Pie

You're one of 24 blackbirds who just got baked in a pie... The pie is opened and you see the king so you start singing (because he's a big deal).  The king goes to count his money while the queen's eating bread and honey, so you sneak out the window and peck off the nose of the maid who baked you in that pie! 

Now you've got somebody's nasty nose in your mouth and she's going to the doctor's.  Who is happy now? 

So none of us reading this are Blackbirds, but we have all had times when we've been baked in a pie - in one way or another.  Shafted, dejected, rejected, insulted, and so on. When we get hurt like this we have to make a choice.  Do we hold a grudge, or do we forgive?  I promise in every case, if you forgive, it will be better for everyone, especially you.  I mean, really, who wants someones nasty nose in their mouth?

They send for the king's doctor,

who sewed it on again;

He sewed it on so neatly,

the seam was never seen.

Climbing Over Mountains of Life

Rock Climbing is the best! When you climb a mountain that is longer than your rope it takes two people.  The 1st climber begins climbing, clips into bolts every 5-10 feet, reaches the length of the rope, anchors into the rock face, and belays the 2nd up to him.  They repeat that until they reach the top of the mountain.

The 1st climber really does the hardest and scariest work because they don't have someone who's shown them the route, and if they fall, they fall far since their anchor is below them.  The 2nd climber has it easy because they just have to follow the route the 1st took. The anchors are all above them so they can't fall (so long as they don't skip any anchors) and the rope connects the dots to show the path the 1st took.



Jesus Christ is the first climber.  He overcame the mountains of life and death.  He showed us the path and left behind principles and ordinances that can be anchors in our life.  The first anchor is Faith in him.  We have to believe that he is ready to catch us when we fall.  The second is repentance which includes acting on that faith and following in his way. We will fall, but the key is to let him catch us.  When we choose to skip these anchors we risk a hard fall, but he will still catch us and put us back on the path. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.  He is at the top of the mountain rooting us on, and as we follow his example we will be on the safe path through life and will reach the greatest heights!