Ladies, ever have a bad hair day? No matter what you do your hair looks awful. It doesn't brush right, or stay in place? You don't even want to go out and be seen in public!
When that happens think of the cardinal, male and female. These beautiful birds have a time each year when they lose those handsome coats of red and brown feathers. It is called "the molt". Feathers are an outgrowth of the skin like fingernails are for us. When the growth of a feather is finished the supply of blood coming from the base of the shaft is cut off. That means the feather is now, in effect, dead. It cannot repair itself when broken or worn. When an entire feather is lost, however, a new feather will begin to grow immediately. June Osborne. in her book, "The Cardinal" wrote: " Typically, all feathers on a bird's body are replaced after the breeding season. This is when cardinals seem to disappear from our gardens and stop singing. It almost seems as if they do not want us to see or hear them while they molt. I must admit I could sympathize: they do look rather weird while replacing their finery." The Cardinal p83
A friend showed me a picture of what appeared to be a black-headed cardinal. It was a strange looking critter. It had lost all it's head feathers and the black skin made it look black-headed. We really can't blame them for wanting to stay out in the heavy brush until they look better.
You remember losing a front tooth? Or having those awful pimples? Or you had a rash? Or an eye was blackened and you had to answer to all the jibes of your friends? Sure you do. What you wanted was to stay home, and inside, and never see anyone else again.
Solomon grows depressingly grim in his molting days for he knew it meant he was close to the end of his earthly life. Listen to him: " Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them....before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few....when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets." (Ecclesiastes 12:1-5)
He was like a molting cardinal, but the feathers weren't returning! How much more uplifting it is to read these words: "The time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Now, there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day..." Phil 4:7-8
That reflects the difference a walk with the Lord makes as we approach molting time.
