November 10, 2024

Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17
Mark 12:38-44

There is a lot to learn when you’re a young bird. Or a young human, of course. But this story is about a young bird.

He was an ‘amakihi, and he’d hatched, fledged, and flown. He’d toured around with a little flock of various forest birds, and he’d seen plenty of sunrises and sunsets. All in all, he thought he was pretty wise.

Then he saw a creature he hadn’t seen before. It was big. It was impressive. It soared along in the air on broad wings. He watched it from an ohi’a branch with awe. Such presence. Such grace. Such magnificence. Such size.

To his surprise, it landed in a neighboring tree, where it seemed to rest.

“What are you?” asked the young ‘amakihi.

“I’m an ‘io,” said the big bird. “Haven’t you heard about me?”

In truth, the young ‘amakihi had been told about the ‘io, but he hadn’t been paying attention. These things happen sometimes, have you noticed?

“I can’t remember hearing anything about you,” said the ‘amakihi with some truth. “What are you like?”

“Oh, I’m a very friendly bird,” said the ‘io. “I fly around overhead and watch out for all the other birds in the forest. All the birds are safe when I’m around.”

“That’s really great,” said the young ‘amakihi. “And what do you eat?”

“Oh, this and that,” said the ‘io. “Kind of like yourself.”

“You mean, bugs and nectar and fruit?”

“Kind of like that,” said the ‘io.

“I’m a little hungry myself,” said the ‘amakihi, “and this tree has been pretty well picked over. If you don’t mind I’ll see you later.”

“That’s fine,” said the ‘io, who fortunately for the young ‘amakihi wasn’t hungry at the moment. “I’ll catch you later.”

The ‘amakihi flew off, and the ‘io didn’t chase him, fortunately. A little later he found his grandmother, and told her about the bird he’d just met.

“The ‘io told you he protects the other birds?” said his Tutu.

“Oh, yes,” said her grandson.

“Don’t you remember what your mother and father said about the ‘io?” asked his grandmother sternly.

“I’m afraid I don’t,” said the young ‘amakhi. “I may not have been listening all that well.”

“That wasn’t a good time to not listen,” she said. “Didn’t you notice the ‘io’s beak, and the talons on his feet? Do you think those are good for eating bugs and nectar?”

And she told him what an ‘io eats. He was horrified and pretty surprised that he’d survived that conversation.

“Those who are danger to you won’t always tell you so,” said Tutu. “Sometimes they’ll lie about it. Listen to the warnings of those who love you. We may not always be right, but we will always tell you what we know and what we believe we know.

“And keep an eye out for those ‘io.”

by Eric Anderson

Watch the Recorded Story

I write these stories in advance, and I tell them from memory during Sunday worship. Therefore, the story you’ve just read will likely differ from the story as I told it.

Photos of an ‘amakihi (top) and an ‘io (smaller photo on right) by Eric Anderson.