Twitchers

In the birding world, they’re sometimes referred to as “twitchers.” Now, anyone who is actually into birding will keep lists of birds they’ve seen. Life lists, continent lists, country lists, state lists, year lists, month lists, trip lists, Big Day lists, yard lists. There was a time when I kept all sorts of these lists. And I still have them, on a couple of the old floppies we used to use with Apple 2e+ computers. The only list I even attempt to bother with these days is my yard list.

Back when I was an active birder, I was on several hot-lines that would provide me with information of unusual or rare sightings, and I’d have my choice of going off to chase a possible new bird for my list(s) or not. Usually I didn’t. Oh, there were times. Like driving three and a half hours from Walla Walla, Washington to north of Spokane, Washington, in the hope of seeing an owl from the north, not commonly seen in the states, sitting in the top of a tree a hundred yards from the road (it was still there when I arrived!). Or driving two and a half hours southward from Central Massachusetts onto Cape Cod, and then taking a one-hour ferry ride out to Nantucket Island and hiring a taxi to take me to the far end of the island in the hope of seeing an accidentally situated African Egret (it was nowhere to be seen when I got there). It is very useful to keep in touch with the hot lines, because they can also inform you if the bird has flown off, been eaten by a cat, or more correctly identified as an abnormal common bird. This can save gas and nerves.

Birding can be quite competitive. There are a number of organizations on the national, state, and local levels that regulate, judge, and accept/deny claims of individual sightings as well as record lists. There are well defined rules as to what can and cannot be included on the lists. And those who really wish to be at the top of the birding world subscribe to many hot-lines, each of which is checked regularly. When a bird not on their current lists shows up on a hot-line, such birders will drop everything to go “collect” the sighting. And if, horror of horrors, they’re not able to go (job is in the way, no transportation, spouse put a foot down, etc.), they begin to twitch. It’s a type of nervous tic. Hence the term, “twitchers”. I’ve known and associated with several such individuals (at least one of whom lost his wife due to his constant running off to see birds).

The other day, while reading my Bible, I came across a passage that made me wonder if there aren’t some twitchers in the Christian world. In Matt 24:23, Christ said, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.” And in verse 26, “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.”

It seems that many of the birding twitchers who miss their targets haven’t really studied up on the characteristics and habits of their “prey”. Sometimes they miss important pieces of information in the directions. Are there individuals in the Christian realm, who’ve likewise failed to study up on the characteristics and habits of Christ, missing a piece of information, and thus are rushing around trying to get a confirmed sighting?

Allow me to provide you with a reliable hot-line tip. There are at least three places where any individual can find Christ at any time:
#1 John 14:2-3 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Christ urged His followers to believe Him when He said H was returning to heaven to prepare a place for them. By faith, we can see Him there. He has promised that He is there.

#2 John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. Christ testifies that we can find Him in the Scriptures. We can find Him as often as we wish; we can learn about Him, study Him, and listen to His voice.

#3 Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me. If I have accepted Him as my Savior, He dwells within me. He has promised, and he is faithful.

So, you see, for the Christian there is no need to dash about willy-nilly, not knowing for sure where the treasure is. He isn’t here today, gone tomorrow. There is no reason to be unfamiliar with Him. We don’t have to travel great distances to find Him, nor do we need binoculars. We don’t even have to leave the house!

The only reason for Him to be a rare sighting is if we don’t look for Him.

Dr. G