Five Seagulls

After an extremely busy December, I needed some rest and renewal. The day after Christmas, I escaped for a short sabbatical and writing retreat at the beach. Not wanting to waste a moment, I took a stroll on the beach and had an encounter with five seagulls.

Dark clouds hovered over the gray ocean as I walked in the narrow strip of packed sand left as the tide backed off the shore. Salt air and peaceful waves began their work of relaxation on my pent up tension.

But before I became too relaxed, five seagulls in flight careened near enough to touch, their screeching deafening as they swirled around me before thrusting upward. My heartrate escalated and I wondered if they planned an attack.

The screaming, angry mass of birds moved out of my space as the lead bird dropped something from his beak. All five landed in a huddle, frantic to grab the edible morsel. Off they went again, the victor in front, and four followers shrieking their displeasure.

After my heart rate returned to normal from being in the midst of their battle, I pondered the experience. Instead of seeking their own food, four of the gulls had decided the better plan was to take (steal) what the other bird had retrieved.

The gulls declined to forage for their own food–they wanted what one of their group already had.

Jealousy and coveting

Ouch—something about the salt water opened more than my sinuses. I realized that I’ve experienced jealousy, envy, and coveting what others have. A bigger house would be great! Perhaps someone to clean my house would brighten my day. How about new clothes, less wrinkles, and a book contract?

Have you ever looked at something someone else has and wished you had it?

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17 NIV)

Well . . . that’s painfully clear, wouldn’t you agree? When we’re jealous or envious of what others have, we are separating ourselves from God. Rather than being contented with our blessings, we are wanting more–coveting–seeking what God has given to others. We are not loving our neighbors when we desire that their blessings be ours.

Even more so, coveting, jealousy, and envy can lead to serious disagreements, conflict, and harmful interactions.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:1-4)

So how do we get over wanting what others have?

So, dear readers, instead of “preaching” to you about not coveting–I’m changing over to first person and chastising myself for jealousy and envy. What can I do better?

Love my neighbor

I don’t know the true circumstances of those I believe are blessed more than I am. While I may envy their possessions, their wealth, or their success as an author or speaker, their life situation may be more difficult than mine.

Be more thankful and grateful

When is the last time I expressed gratitude and thanksgiving to my Father for His love, mercy, grace, AND blessings of material things, too? I could fill notebooks, have an all night prayer and still not have time to list everything my Lord has done for me.

Serve others with joy

I’ve found that in helping and serving others, pure joy results from the love we share together.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing of the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in the spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:1-5)

Jesus is the answer

We’ve just celebrated Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior. Jesus was born to save us. Through Him we are gifted with salvation, eternal life. We don’t have to envy or covet this gift of life. We all have access. Jesus gives the gift of love and life to all.

And seagulls don’t fight all the time…there’s hope for us, too.