Articles
Great Blue Heron
R E F L E C T I O N S
Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith
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"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
- I Jn. 1:9
I photographed this great blue heron as it was stalking the edges of a small creek near my home. When it heard my camera's shutter, it quickly raised its head and stared in my direction. Since I was concealed in my photography blind, I was able to get several shots off with this heron gazing straight at me. I like this image because it clearly shows the unique chest feathers of this bird. Herons use these feathers like a comb to clean the slime and mire from their feet. Since these are wading birds, their feet quickly become coated with all manner of disgusting stuff. By passing their feet through these chest feathers, they can cleanse themselves quite easily. It is like having your own personal grooming brush with you at all times. I don't know if it is true that cleanliness is next to godliness, but it is certainly true that cleanliness beats filthiness every time. What we do know, however, is that not all filth is easily removed or even easily seen. Much of our filth is hidden behind the masks we all wear. One of the hardest things for us to do is to admit the depth of our sinfulness, and that seems to be especially hard for Christians to do. But it is essential that we do it. Confession is hard, but is remarkably healing. After all, God knows the extent of our sinfulness even before we admit it. Being forgiven and cleansed by the grace and mercy of God is an incredible and undeserved gift. It surely beats pretending we are clean when we know we are not. And we don't even have to carry a comb around with us and do it ourselves. - John
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