We have lived at our new home going on 6 years now. It didn't take long for us to have those backyard visitors dropping by and letting us know that even though our house now stood on ground that was once wild, they were not going to leave their habitat.
Case in point.....this red guy who would wake us every morning by banging into two of our back windows over and over again. Not sure if he saw his reflection and was defending his turf and lady (I say "he" because of his beautiful colors....female cardinals are a much more dull brownish color.) or was knocking himself silly and was delirious!
This went on at various times each year for about three years. Then it stopped.
Well, this week I was again awakened early in the morning by what sounded like repeated loud knocking. Upon investigating, I saw this new guy doing the same thing at the same two windows. Not sure what kind of bird he is, but one thing is for sure..... he is equally stubborn in his determination. We have become concerned that he will eventually break his neck, so have attempted to dissuade him by placing a large stuffed doll with big eyes in one window and hanging our orange Piggly Wiggly shopping bag in the other. 
It's working!! Hope he can appreciate how silly we look inside for his benefit, although somehow I think he could care less. He brings to mind the verses in Matthew (6:26) that say:
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
I wish we could be as trusting and thus, more worry-free.
These feathered characters also remind me of myself or others who will continue to follow a path or practice that will only result in the same failure or self-deception or harm. Yet we doggedly, stubbornly do the same thing over and over again and foolishly expect a different result. It's not rational or beneficial, but our pride, arrogance or sheer stupidity keeps us beating our heads against that barrier.Some will say that that "never quit" attitude is admirable......it is when we're willing to admit our limitations, seek advice/assistance from others and logically figure out and pursue another path or even slightly different goal.
Maybe it's my age, but it's easier now to know this.
Until next time.....
