Two robins were sitting on a branch high in a tree. One looked down and saw a field full of worms. Turning to the second bird, he said, “We ought to go down there and eat.” “Good idea,” said his friend.

The two of them flew down to the field and ate their fill and then some. When he could eat no more on said to the other, “You know, we ought to stop eating and fly back to our branch.” Rubbing his belly the second responded, “Yep.”

With that, they tried to fly to their branch in the tree, but they had eaten too much to get off the ground. The second one said, “Maybe we should just stay here and relax in the sun.” Before long the two birds slept, basking in the afternoon sun.

As they slept, a cat happened upon the field. Seeing the birds sleeping and oblivious to his presence, the cat pounced. As feather’s settled around him, the cat rubbed his belly and said, “There is nothing better than Baskin’ Robbins.”

Yes, it is a poor pun, but there is certainly spiritual value. Throughout Israel and Judah’s history, they were physically blessed at times. It was during these times that they would often forget God. Amos warns his hearers, “ ‘Therefore I will send you into captivity beyond Damascus,’ says the Lord, whose name is the God of hosts. Woe to you who are at ease in Zion” (Amos 5:27-6:1). The people thought all was good, and they sat back, enjoying the good things in life, forgetting God, and neglecting obedience. We must always remember from whom blessings come, and seek to obey Him.

The birds also forgot about the cat. They forgot to be watchful. Peter warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8).

The lesson of this modern parable is simple. The field is the world with its pleasures. The birds are you and I. The cat is our enemy the devil. When we focus too much on what this world has to offer, we forget to trust in God, and we become easy targets for the devil.

— Tommy Moore
Hurst Street Herald, Vol. XXI, Nr. 7, Hurst St. Church of Christ,
110 Hurst St., Center, TX 75935, February 13, 2000

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