By Helene Smith | PREVIEW Columnist
Our hummingbird feeder has six flower-shaped openings. In the summer, hummers sipped at each flower. Seeing green, black and cinnamon-colored birds enjoying a drink together is a beautiful sight. More often, only one or two were able to snatch a quick drink before being chased off by others.
My granddaughter and I enjoyed watching their antics through the living room window. Hearing intense racket, we observed two green hummers chasing each other away from the feeder. When one winged in to eat, the other swooped into its path to discourage the attempt. Over and over they flew at each other. Neither one gave the other a chance to drink the sugary liquid, until one reached the feeder. It tried one spigot, then another and another. After attempting all six openings, it discovered the feeder empty. So much effort for nothing. Little bird, was it worth fighting over?
When I was a little girl, my parents bought a house in our neighborhood to renovate and sell. I invited a friend to play in the backyard with me while my mother was inside cleaning. We found a broken plate in the dirt. Treasure. She wanted it. I wanted it. I claimed the broken plate. She left. I lost a friend. Little girl me, was it worth fighting over?
In my local church family, some have had a virus shot and others have not. There are strong convictions in both groups. Paul says in Romans 14 that people will have different ideas. However, we are not to argue with each other about those differences. We can share our opinions with love, but we are not to argue.
“And don’t argue with them about their different ideas.” — Romans 14:1b (ERV).
God is love. Should we not treat each other with love? If we bicker with each other, what does that say about us as Christians? I am not to judge you because you and I disagree. One of my former pastors once stated that as long as we embrace the life, death, resurrection and Lordship of Christ, we can disagree about other things and still spend eternity together in Heaven. When we are together in eternity we might ask ourselves — Christians, was it worth fighting over?
“So why do you judge your brother or sister in Christ? Or why do you think that you are better than they are? We will all stand before God, and he will judge us all.” — Romans 14:10 ERV.
This column may include both fiction and nonfiction, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN. Submissions can be sent to editor@pagosasun.com.
