In Lindley's historic church, the morning service began with music that swelled through the lofty space. The grand organ pipes resonated with praise and worship, as the congregation sang with enthusiasm. Suddenly, a swallow took flight within the church, swooping and soaring around the high ceiling. The rapid flapping of its wings created a striking contrast to the peaceful atmosphere.
As the preacher began her sermon on the importance of love,
referencing 1 Corinthians 13, the swallow's anxious flight seemed to offer a
poignant illustration of the chapter's message: "If I have the gift of
prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge... but have not love, I
am nothing." Without love, our actions are empty and without purpose.
The swallow continued its aerial quest, circling left and
right, its wings beating rapidly as it sought an escape. The closed windows and doors seemed
to amplify its plight, and I wondered if it would ever find its freedom. Just
as the swallow sought freedom, we too search for meaning, purpose, and
intimacy.
The preacher continued weaving her words into a powerful
narrative around the theme of love. "What comes to mind when you hear the
word 'love'?" she asked. A brave voice responded, "God." The
banner at the front of the church seemed to affirm this sentiment, declaring
boldly, "God is love."
Watching the scene unfold, I realized that two sermons were
being delivered simultaneously-one earthly, spoken by the preacher, and the
other heavenly, delivered wordlessly by the swallow from above. The earthly
sermon proclaimed love's transformative power, while the heavenly sermon
poignantly illustrated the futility of seeking freedom without love.
As the sermon concluded, the organist's fingers danced
across the keys, filling the air with a stirring rendition of "The Power
of Your Love." The song's unsung lyrics resonated deeply, speaking
directly to the swallow's quest for freedom-and to our own longing for
connection: "Hold me close, let Your love surround me... Bring me near,
draw me to Your side."
The song transformed the swallow's story, revealing that
true freedom lies not in escape, but in embracing the present, surrounded by
God's love. Psalm 84:3 came to mind: "Even the sparrow finds a home, and
the swallow a nest... at your altars, O Lord" (ESV). In that sacred space,
the swallow's restless flight gave way to a profound truth: Home is where love
resides.
Stepping out of the church into the bright light, the large
open doors, the same ones that had confined the swallow, now flung wide,
offered new freedom. I felt a surge of hope, knowing that just as the swallow's
story had been transformed, our own stories can be rewritten by the redeeming
power of God's love.
For in the power of God's love, we find the freedom to
surrender, to let go, and to love as He loves. And in that surrender, like the
swallow, we find our true home in Him-not in the wide expanses of freedom, but
simply, profoundly, in Him.
