The definition of the term “bird brain” means a foolish or scatterbrained person. I assume this slang term originated when someone thought a bird had a small brain and had an inferior level of intelligence in comparison to other animals. Humans use this term inappropriately to degrade the intelligence of other people.

Last Monday, when I was saying my morning prayers at Holy Martyrs Church sometime around 6:30am, a red robin kept trying to get into the Church through a window on the east side of the building. The bird was literally flying into the window multiple times, then stopping, pecking at the window glass, and then repeating the process time after time. This activity continued for at least ten minutes. I felt sorry for the robin, so I eventually went over to the inside of the window, tapped on the glass and scared it away. A few minutes later in returned and, once again, continued running into the window and tapping on the glass with its beak for another five minutes or so before finally flying away.

I thought this type of behavior was probably what caused someone to develop the slang term “birdbrain”. I would have thought the bird would learn more quickly that there was no way to get into the Church and then stop flying into the window, realizing it was only hurting itself.

As I thought about it, though, I admired the bird. It was trying to get into the church and nothing was going to stop it. Its passion and unwavering desire left me with a sense of awe at its determination. I thought maybe it realized that Jesus was present within the tabernacle in the church and was drawn to be closer to God in that opportunity.

I realized that we all need to be more like that bird, as we are drawn to be with our loving Lord. Let’s be with Him as often as we can.

In the book, In Sinu Jesu, a Benedictine Monk documents his encounters with Jesus as He speaks to him in the silence of his heart. On page 54 of this book, Jesus speaks to the monk in his meditation saying, “…it grieves Me that …I am left alone for days on end in the tabernacle. I would draw souls to My open Heart (if they visited). I would have them experience what it is to abide in the radiance of My Eucharistic Face. I would give Myself in intimacy to souls drawn to me”.

Maybe birds are much smarter than we ever thought.

By: Deacon Tom Gryzbek