Under Wing
In junior high / middle school I walked to and from school every day. We had to arrive by 7:45am every day.
It was only 1 mile but on some days it was cold, freezing even. On those days walking past the onion fields and corn fields - now filled with houses - required determination.
Sometimes other kids would be walking to the same school at the same time. Some of them would have a friend’s mom in a minivan pull over and give them a ride. In my still-waking-up mode I once walked up to a minivan thinking the driver pulled over for me, only to slowly painfully realize I didn’t know anyone in the vehicle…(and slowly walk back to the sidewalk).
On one of those freezing and snowing mornings I had made it about two blocks and a 20-year-old member of the same ward / congregation pulled over - in her red camarro, in jean shorts. She had the heater on full blast - so much that I could feel the hot air when she rolled down the window and offered me a ride. I actually thought I was dreaming and asked her if she wanted to run away together instead of going to junior high. She laughed and said, “Sorry - I can’t. Gotta run to work.” After realizizing I wasn’t dreaming, I got in the camrro. As she drove me 1 mile to school, the passenger seat provided comfort, warmth from the heater, and protection from the freezing cold and snow.
Another day I was decided to start jogging as I was walking home. I noticed something flutter out of the corner of my eye as I jogged by. Curious, I turned around and slowly walked back, retracing my steps. Unable to see what had moved, I started stomping. A mother hen stretched out her wings and her chicks instinctively hid under them.
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In 3rd Nephi chapter 10, the resurrected Savior says:
4…how oft have I bgathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have cnourished you.
5 And again, ahow oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, … how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
6 … how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and breturn unto me with full purpose of cheart.
While He does provide comfort, warmth, peace, guidance, and shelter from the storms. He gathers us and asks us to gather each other and those unaware of His gospel. But His analogy goes deeper though.
The hen and chicks I had stomped by knew what to do when trouble was coming.
They knew who would offer up her body to protect them, if necessary.
The Savior offered His body up to protect and save all of us, and He shared this analogy to help teach the people there and today how we can see His actions in things we’re familiar with - the way, the path, the light, the truth, a hen.
Who can you help gather today?