Lessons from a Raven

Walking past a local church, I notice a raven had chosen the beam of the cross outside the sanctuary as its nesting spot. It struck me how much we share in common with this seemingly common creature.

While this raven made its home at the church, we at Anamesa have turned our homes into the church.

Often regarded as some of the smartest creatures in creation, ravens offer us valuable lessons on being the church.

​Firstly, their ability to mimic human speech surpasses even that of parrots. Jesus taught us how to use our voice to mimic him and speak His truth.
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The raven’s innate curiosity and love for learning mirror the importance of studying the Bible and mastering faith, akin to Jesus’s example. 

Furthermore, ravens, who excel as problem solvers, demonstrate Jesus’s call for us to approach life’s challenges with love and empathy, looking out for one another despite differences.

Ravens also have a crazy memory and keen sense of facial recognition. Remembering people who are kind to them and who aren’t. Similarly, Jesus promises to remember acts of kindness and injustice, especially when it comes “the least of these.” 

​Moreover, ravens possess remarkable communication skills, reminiscent of Jesus’s commission for His followers to go and spread the good news to everyone everywhere. 

Yes, their early morning cries can be a nuisance, and their scavenging habits may seem thoughtless, but perhaps that’s how they make a joyful noise unto the Lord and trust God for their daily bread.

This echoes the sentiment of St Francis, who frequently preached to the birds, to remind them of their inherent worth. He said, “Do you realize that by your very existence, you are inherently giving glory to God? So just be who you are.”

I think we all could use this reminder. And a great place to start is by following the example of the raven by making our home in the cross of Christ.