A Hobbled Seagull

A friend called from Hawaii and told me about a seagull on the beach.  She noticed one leg looked ulcerated.  The poor bird couldn’t walk at all, but flutter-hopped in its quest for food.  On closer examination, she saw fishing line entangled the legs, hobbling the bird.  She approached slowly, extending her hand in the hope she could remove the line and do something about the wounds.  Frightened, the gull flew off, legs still hobbled and infected. 

Sometimes we are like that poor seagull.  We become entangled in bad habits or addictions, in destructive relationships or all manner of fears.  We peck away at our daily jobs, trying to forget the pain.  All the while the infection of sin is growing and going deeper until it will destroy us. 

The seagull flew away from my friend who wanted to untangle the line and wash the wounds.  And we often fly away from those who want to help us, too.  Sometimes we turn away out of fear, other times shame.  More often, we turn our backs because of our pride. 

Sometimes the pain of removing what holds us captive is frightening.  Yet if we lay aside all those things that encumber our walk with God, we will walk and not grow weary, and fly on wings like eagles.