THE MIRACULOUS STORY OF THE SWALLOWS ON STILL MOUNTAIN—How the Divine answered our prayers in our time of need
It has been proven over and over throughout humanity's history that unselfish PRAYER CHANGES THINGS in the face of terrible threats, challenges and uncertainty when all seemed lost and hopeless
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This is WEEKEND Edition THE DAWNING LIGHT MAGAZINE # 1409
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Today we are featuring our….
PRAYER CHANGES THINGS Section #10
Stories by Chinmayan about the power of prayer to invoke direct divine intervention and help in desperate and seemingly hopeless situations
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Lovingly written and published by Chinmayan
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THE MIRACULOUS STORY OF THE SWALLOWS ON STILL MOUNTAIN—How the Divine answered our prayers in our time of need
For Over A Hundred Years Swallows Have Been Building Their Nests On Our Church Building On Still Mountain…
Swallows have been building their mud daub nests under the wide eaves of our old church building on Still Mountain for over a hundred years.
Each Spring, swarms of swallows would return in the warming days of the season of new growth from wherever they go in the winter to repair old nests or build new ones.
The swallows would suddenly appear as if by some mysterious magic.
We would see at least a hundred or more swallows flying back and forth from the old church to wherever they could find fresh mud.
Our building became a busy avian construction site as they brought fresh mud in their beaks and applied it to their own nests.
The swallows worked in pairs of committed mates to build or rebuild their nest until they were done.
Then, each pair would “move in” to lay their eggs and raise the next generation.
It was a beautiful aerial ballet as the swallows swooped through the air in happy, well-orchestrated pandemonium that was delightful to watch.
The old church building has very deep eaves so there was plenty of room in the crease where the top of the outer wall met the eaves for all their nests.
It was beautiful to see them flying in from the thousands of acres of grassy fields surrounding Still Mountain with worms or grasshoppers in their beaks to feed their baby birds.
We could see the baby’s heads sticking out of the round entrances to the nests squawking as they waited to be fed…and to hear the cheerful songs of parent birds as they flew and flickered about.
The only downside to this annual visitation was the layers of bird poop that accumulated under the nests.
This wasn’t really a problem for most of the nests that were located on the long sides of the building that had either flower beds or bare ground underneath them.
But for some reason, the swallows especially loved making their nests under the eaves of the wide fancy portico which is the main entrance to our meditation hall.
Every inch of space was packed with nests built tightly together like the ancient cliff dwellings of the southwest and full of happy baby birds and their parents.
This was not an issue during all the years we struggled to repair the old, neglected building that was in ruinous shape when we bought it, always with the goal of making it into the “Still Mountain Meditation Center” and opening it for public programs.
But finally, after years of massive effort on a shoestring budget to bring the building back into good condition, we reached the point where the finishing touches were been done and we scheduled opening the Center early in 2015.
We had a large sign made with our Center name in large blue letters and hung it on the front side of the portico under the eaves facing the street.
When I realized that this beautiful new sign would soon inevitably be covered with streaks of bird poop, with more and more of the slimy slippery shit falling on the concrete floor of the entry way where everyone coming to our programs would be walking in and out, I was concerned and dismayed.
I could easily visualize the extreme likelihood of bird poop falling on people’s heads and clothes as they came to programs.
Since teaching meditation and practical spiritual principles and practices is a major part of my life’s purpose and work, and after all the years of struggle to get to that point, I simply could not let our dream or our work be turned to shit.
I spontaneously prayed from deep in my soul— “O Lord, please inspire the swallows to move on from Still Mountain, to find themselves a new, even better place to build their nests from this day forward and never return here again.”
I immediately felt the deep abiding inner peace that comes when the Divine blesses us with a positive response to our prayers.
I did not see how it would happen, but I felt the inner assurance that all the swallows would relocate to some new and better site for them and would never come back to Still Mountain.
I knew this with absolute certainty and also heard inwardly that I did not have to take any physical action, such as erecting barriers or installing something to scare them away.
I knew that the Divine was going to take care of the whole situation for us without any further effort from us.
…and that is exactly what happened.
Since then, not a single swallow has returned to build nests here…and all the thick mud daub nests that were here fell off by themselves…as if they had never been here in the first place.
One of my teachers says…” The Divine loves for us to ask for those things we truly need. But most people do not believe in the power and privilege of prayer, so they do not even try. To them I say— “You have not because you ask not…” that is too bad because God says to us—boldly ask for everything, big or small, and know that, if it for your highest good, you shall have it.”
In the Bible, there are many encouraging verses about this principle…such as this one—
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds….” —John in Philippians 4:6-7
Calligraphy by Chinmayan
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Meanwhile, may this be one of the most wonderful and amazing days of your life!
May God bless us all including the sparrows 🙏