Fish and Birds: As Above So Below
Do fish know they are swimming in water?
Does the definition matter to them?
Do birds know they are flying in the air?
Does the definition matter to them?
How shall we define the two?
How do the two become one?
When the bird captures the fish and takes it into the sky, is the fish grateful?
When the bird consumes the fish the fish now becomes the bird, and the two become one.
Only one like Jonah could get this backwards for a time.
If I have told you earthly things, and you do not understand them, how can I tell you heavenly things?
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the experience of the Reality of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” - John 3:5
When we capture our thoughts and desires that are a part of our lower nature (fish), the higher nature (bird) begins to integrate for our higher purpose, which takes flight as we are transformed in God. The Bird, that Loving Dove that gives us Spirit and air as one to begin with, descends upon us in the waters (baptism) so that we arise as a new creation in God. As we allow ourselves to be swallowed in God, the living waters of Reality, we learn to become His body. His body, also revealed through Jesus, reveals the same spirit of that process we are in. This process is named repeatedly in scripture through different comparisons based on natural life, for example: As the waters of the earth are separated from the waters of the sky and the lesser light is made for the night and the greater light for the day, etc. (Genesis 1:7,16)
We are lesser lights, of the earth, designed to become like the greater Light where our earthly night turns into a heavenly Day.
“Our work in participating in this process will eventually be revealed because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the sincerity of each person’s work.” - 1 Corinthians 3:13
We look above to the greatest Light to become what we shall become as we understand that Wisdom is first of all, from above. We are not to focus on earthly things but heavenly things. The sky and the heavens, where the birds reveal we are to look, proclaim the work of God without audible speech, yet pour forth their speech day after day and night after night they reveal knowledge (Psalm 19:1-4). Jesus reveals this when he is resurrected from the dead and cooks fish for his disciples, as they consume that lesser food to learn the gift it is, yet to further consume the greater gift of God in their body that is to be transformed and taken up in the Spirit, just like him. (John 21:13)
“This is my body that was given up for you.”
When we do the same, that is, consume the very body of God that nurtures us into what we are becoming, we learn more and more to give our own bodies in service of the world. This giving of life develops our becoming a life-giving spirit. Our short breath on earth is but a beginning stage to be born again, that is, to become a life-giving spirit after Jesus’ example of what earthly life is all about.
“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” - 1 Corinthians 2:13-14
So look at the birds of the air, see how our Father cares for them. Are you not more precious than they? Are you to become like them, to fly freely in the heavens after a short sojourn upon the earth? Are you to become like a butterfly after the earth's cocoon has done its work? Are you to allow the Spirit to swallow you whole?
Yes and Amen.
When this becomes our Yes and our So be it (Amen), we become fishers of men, drawing them out of the waters to separate their lesser light by integrating them into the greater Light as the two become one. We hover over the chaos of the waters to bring spiritual order and meaning. We cause the two to become one, which is the Spirit’s doing, in order to become what we shall be.
So be it,
-PH
“Father into your handiwork I commit my spirit.”
