A pair of tree swallows has nested in one of our birdhouses. Most days, nearly
all day, the male can be seen perched either on top of the birdhouse or on the garden flag pole very near by. His mate faithfully stays sitting on the eggs in their nest. When I water the garden, the male does fly off, but not far, and the female pokes her head out the entrance, I imagine to watch what I’m doing or to see where her mate has gone. In human terms, I would say that these two tree swallows have a covenant between them.Once again I consulted the dictionary and discovered its definition of 
covenant is a “solemn agreement”, one that is binding on all parties. Synonyms include words such as pledge, bond, pact. It would appear, in the bird world, that our two tree swallows actions do fit this definition. They most certainly have a bond or a pact with each other – the female tends to the nest and the male keeps watch and gathers food.
Once upon a time a teenage girl asked her mother what she would think if there ever came a time when the daughter wanted to live with a man she loved but not married. The mother thought for a while and replied, “Well, I’m not fond of the idea but when you’re an adult, if that’s what you want to do, it will be your choice”. The daughter looked surprised that her mother was so accepting of this life-style and asked if it would make her mother feel better if she and the man were engaged. Once again the reply was, “That will be your choice, not mine”. And once again the daughter was surprised at what she heard. However, the mother was not finished speaking on the subject. Going on she said, “Although I personally did not and would not have made that choice, you will have to make those types of life decisions for yourself. I just want you to know that agreeing with someone to live with them and even an engagement are promises the two of you make to each other. Although each person has the best of intentions to keep those promises, sometimes they don’t and then things can get messy. Marriage on the other hand is much more than a promise. It’s a vow you make with each other in the presence of others and it’s a three-way covenant: between you and your love and God. Covenants are not something to take lightly." Thus ended the conversation…for that day.
Covenants between God and people are relatively common in the Hebrew Scriptures – Noah, Abraham, the whole people Israel (to name but a few). During the Last Supper, the words of Jesus in breaking the bread and sharing the cup (Mark 14:22-24) are interpreted as the institution of a new sacred covenant which will be accomplished through Jesus’ passion and death. As theologically significant as this is for Christians, I believe we also need to remember those covenants that came before – how God cared for, loved, forgave and never abandoned the Israelites. This too is the substance of the very same covenant our Sacred Creator makes with each one of us. It’s more than a promise. If we stop and think about all the ways each of us has been blessed, perhaps we will come to realize the movement of the Spirit in and around us is a continual renewal of the Sacred One’s holy covenant with us.
Peace on the Journey.
covenant is a “solemn agreement”, one that is binding on all parties. Synonyms include words such as pledge, bond, pact. It would appear, in the bird world, that our two tree swallows actions do fit this definition. They most certainly have a bond or a pact with each other – the female tends to the nest and the male keeps watch and gathers food.Once upon a time a teenage girl asked her mother what she would think if there ever came a time when the daughter wanted to live with a man she loved but not married. The mother thought for a while and replied, “Well, I’m not fond of the idea but when you’re an adult, if that’s what you want to do, it will be your choice”. The daughter looked surprised that her mother was so accepting of this life-style and asked if it would make her mother feel better if she and the man were engaged. Once again the reply was, “That will be your choice, not mine”. And once again the daughter was surprised at what she heard. However, the mother was not finished speaking on the subject. Going on she said, “Although I personally did not and would not have made that choice, you will have to make those types of life decisions for yourself. I just want you to know that agreeing with someone to live with them and even an engagement are promises the two of you make to each other. Although each person has the best of intentions to keep those promises, sometimes they don’t and then things can get messy. Marriage on the other hand is much more than a promise. It’s a vow you make with each other in the presence of others and it’s a three-way covenant: between you and your love and God. Covenants are not something to take lightly." Thus ended the conversation…for that day.
Covenants between God and people are relatively common in the Hebrew Scriptures – Noah, Abraham, the whole people Israel (to name but a few). During the Last Supper, the words of Jesus in breaking the bread and sharing the cup (Mark 14:22-24) are interpreted as the institution of a new sacred covenant which will be accomplished through Jesus’ passion and death. As theologically significant as this is for Christians, I believe we also need to remember those covenants that came before – how God cared for, loved, forgave and never abandoned the Israelites. This too is the substance of the very same covenant our Sacred Creator makes with each one of us. It’s more than a promise. If we stop and think about all the ways each of us has been blessed, perhaps we will come to realize the movement of the Spirit in and around us is a continual renewal of the Sacred One’s holy covenant with us.
Peace on the Journey.
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