by JJFaucher

Amid the noise and rush of our daily routines, those pigeons on the wire carried something we’ve nearly forgotten: the quiet strength of standing side by side.

There is a sacred steadiness in their unflinching posture, a living echo of God’s invitation to ‘be still.’ Together on a single shared line, they remind us that our true security isn’t found in the frantic sowing or reaping of our own effort, but in the simple, faithful act of belonging to the one who holds the wire.

Down here, our world thrummed with its own warm, familiar rhythm. At the corner of Wilson and Jane, people of every background bundled up and hurried across, their scarves fluttering and breaths fogging the air. Buses sighed as they pulled up; cars chimed in with their impatient, cacophonous chorus. The crisp wind wove through us all, nudging coats of every style and urging steps fast or slow, each of us drawn to our own private destinations.

I watched as the birds sometimes descended to the mall’s parking lot, their wings fluttering with timid caution at first, before they returned boldly for whatever crumbs we had left behind. Cautious, yes, but never truly afraid of us, nor of the ground, nor of one another.

It made me smile as I tucked my phone away, feeling a little less hurried myself while I waited for the bus, which always ran late in the winter. My ride gave me enough time to reflect on what Jesus said in Matthew 6:26: ‘Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?’

In their quiet confidence, they became a reminder that the worries of this life loosen their grip when we remember this simple truth: if even the smallest birds live under God’s steady care, then we are never left to carry our burdens alone.

I took this photo of a pigeon standing on the wall outside a refugee shelter in Toronto, ON.

A sign of hope

This is an extract from a book I am working on: The Last Shelter.

I had been trying to secure an apartment for my daughter and me in Langley, B.C., and I had poured so much hope into one specific place. When I found out it had fallen through, I felt completely defeated. The thought of returning to the women’s shelter that evening felt heavy; I was so ready for our month-long stay to finally be over.

I remember sitting at a Tim Hortons, staring out the window and wondering where we would go. Suddenly, I looked up and saw a flock of geese flying in a perfect V-formation across the sky. I quickly grabbed my phone to take a photo to add to my collection. In that moment, it felt like more than just nature; I saw it as a sign of victory–a reminder that God’s protection was still over us.

It was as if the Holy Spirit was telling me that my ‘V for Victory’ was already in motion. Sure enough, soon after I gave thanks, I received a call about another apartment and was able to secure it.

My takeaway was that answers to prayer are the moments we pause to remember that signs of Grace are everywhere, if only we stop to look up. In these moments, prayer aligns our hearts with His will; we aren't creating new grace, but finally noticing the providence that has been sustaining us all along.

Thanks for reading. 🤩

If this reflection resonated with you, I invite you to join me for a previous post, where I shared a bird’s-eye view of the rhythms of life.

https://keziahthinkspress.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/a-lamp-post-vigil/