Death of a Sparrow

I am sad.

Today, a little sparrow flew into the wall on the outside of our building at work. A guy here at work saw it happen and brought the injured bird to me in the office. Over the years I have become a bit of an animal rights activist in our company - calling the humane society for stray cats and raccoons, chasing seagulls ensnared in fishing line, burying dead birds in our flower garden.

But today I thought I might actually save one of God's creatures. This little "guy" (I kept calling it a boy) was unconscious but breating when handed to me. Jennifer and I prepared a little box with towels, a tiny dish of water, and bagel crumbs. Within the first hour, the little sparrow was chirping a little bit and fluttering about the box. But then he would quickly topple over and close his eyes, still not strong enough to go outside and fly away.

I called the Ontario SPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for help. There were no centers close enough to me here in Brampton to deal with wildlife. But they did direct me to the Brampton Humane Society who told me to keep the little guy in a dark, warm, and quiet place inside a box. They said if he didn't seem strong enough to fly then I should wait for about 6 hours. "It could have a broken clavical", they said (that's the collar bone), "if it isn't back to normal by the end of your work day then we'll come by and pick it up." "That's all you can do", they said, "either the bird will make it or it won't".

Yeah I know....tons of people in the office had given up on the bird already, telling me they would have simply left it outside to die where it lay. Some of them would look in the box and kinda snicker as if I was just being ridiculous. I freaked out a bit at one guy and told him he was an idiot with no respect. I place much more value on a life than simply giving up on it.

Maybe I am silly. The bird did die. It was okay when I left for lunch but when I checked on him an hour later, he was gone. At least he was comfortable, I think. Cozy inside warm towels instead of laying outside on the cold pavement.

I feel teary-eyed. I think of a bible verse (as I often do when I'm troubled). Luke 12:6 says:

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in
the sight of God." (ASV)

And Joan reminded me of a Sunday School song she used to know. I "googled" for the words:

God sees the little sparrow fall,
It meets His tender view;
If God so loves the little birds,
I know He loves me, too.

He loves me, too, He loves me, too, I know
He loves me, too;
Because He loves the little things,I know He loves me, too.

He paints the lily of the field,
Perfumes each lily bell;
If He so loves the little flow’rs,
I know He loves me well.

God made the little birds and
flow’rs,
And all things large and small;
He’ll not forget his little ones,
I know He loves them all.

That kinda makes me feel better.