Thud! Last week a horned owl flew into our sliding patio door in the back of our house.

My wife was only a few yards from the patio window when the owl accidently flew into it. I even heard the loud thump from my upstairs office. We raced to see what had happened. The owl had bounced off the sliding door and onto the patio, but its eyes were closed and strangely one wing was still extended. It did not move. We both thought that the owl might be dead. But after a few minutes it opened its large eyes and began to move its head. Then it tucked the extended wing back into its body. After an hour or so of sitting on the patio and only moving its head, the large bird of prey flew to a bush in our back yard and perched there for several hours (see photo). It seemingly had fully recovered after its abrupt encounter with our patio door. Score one for the horned owl! Strangely, no other birds could be found anywhere in our back yard during this occurrence.

The horned owl is such magnificent creation of God. God designed it with large yellowish eyes and distinctive tuft feathers atop its head. We hope this owl will live many years as it patrols the numerous fields around our neighborhood. There is hardly a better "mouse trap" in existence than this bird of prey. The horned owl is the most common of all owls in both North and South America. Did you know they also eat skunks?!

Why do birds fly into windows? I’ve read that birds can't see glass or they may see a reflection in the glass, such as the sky or clouds, and think it is an open space. This should not come as a surprise since even people occasionally walk into glass doors!

My wife and I were reminded of this lesson of faith when the horned owl “dropped” into our yard:

Matthew 10:29-31: "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Jesus Christ stated that when even a bird (including a bird of prey) falls from the sky, God is aware of it. Jesus Christ taught the lesson that both His Father and He are fully aware of what is going on in our lives, and that They care for us with all Their hearts. The challenge for us is to really believe in this (have faith) and then apply it, right? It is extremely comforting to know that our heavenly Father and our Savior are fully aware of what is happening in our individual lives daily!

The next time my wife or I see an owl again we will be reminded of this lesson of faith and this encouraging message—that our Father and our Savior are with us all day long. That is the lesson of the owl and the sparrows.