Tip of My Iceberg

I have many friends who are true birders. Not something I’ve ever considered as a hobby, though I will admit to being fascinated by the many species of birds we have here in Florida, all very different from where I grew up in the Midwest.

When my friend shared her photo of a pileated woodpecker, I was impressed. Not just because it reminded me of the Woody Woodpecker cartoons of long ago, but because of the brilliance of its prominent red mohawk.

We’ve had woodpeckers in our backyard, and their pecking on trees, while sounding intriguing, can become annoying after a bit. It’s a shrill, somewhat harsh drumming sound. It’s useful; they do this to delineate their territory or find a mate.

It’s just not very melodious. Purposeful, not pretty.

Listening to them makes me think of the term “knocking on wood”. I’ve said it because it’s something I’ve heard, without knowing what it means. I didn’t have a clue that it reflected superstition.

It originated from ancient pagan Celtic beliefs that spirits resided in trees, so knocking on trees or touching their wood would call upon these spirits for protection or show gratitude for good fortune.

Is it irrational? Yes. Does it often stem from fear or an unreasonable dependence on magic? Yes. Is there a belief that unseen forces influence our lives? Yes.

None of it’s true. But superstitions become part of culture, and without thinking about it, we follow through with actions that we don’t necessarily agree with. Fear, however, can make you desperate.

Desperate people do desperate things.

King Saul was the king whom the people of Israel demanded. Samuel the prophet warned them that becoming a nation like every other nation, which was ruled by a monarch, would result in their sons being drafted into his army, some would be forced to labor in the king’s fields, they would be taxed and would have to give a portion of their crops to the monarchy, and he would make slaves of their people to serve in his palace. The people didn’t care; they wanted to be like everyone else.

Saul became king, but as time wore on, his faith in the Lord waned, plus he had directly disobeyed what the Lord had told him to do. He became fearful of David, the friend of his own son. The people loved David more than they loved Saul, so Saul became fearful that he would lose their support and make David their king.

Saul, in a panic, decided to consult a medium, wanting her to call Samuel back from the dead. He disguised himself because he had outlawed all mediums, refusing to let them practice their dark magic.

When the medium called Samuel, and he appeared, the medium was shocked because she realized the one who asked was the king. When Saul asked Samuel, the prophet replied, “Why ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? The Lord has done just as He said He would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David.” 1 Samuel 28:16-17.

Fear drove Saul not only to disobey God but to seek help from the dark arts. Soon after this, Saul was killed in battle, alongside his son. Their enemies hung their bodies on the wall of their city.

Superstitions, such as knocking on wood, aren’t substantiated by truth. The woodpecker, who is purposeful in his pecking, has intent with what he does. When we fall into purposeless actions to accomplish something that requires truth, we only deny ourselves the hope that God can give with His wisdom.

If not, we may be pecking at the wrong tree.