I think I’ve finally identified that silly bird who keeps attacking her own image in my kitchen window. She’s a cowbird. Bummer! Why do I think that? Here are some fun facts from the website Under My Apple Tree:
This is a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird who was raised by a pair of cardinals. Yes, cardinals. They adopted this little guy, but not intentionally.
Although the Brown-headed Cowbird is native to North America, many people consider them a nuisance bird. They can be found in open fields, parks and backyards. They will show up at feeders, although no one I know puts out seed to attract them. They are noisy birds and the male makes a whistling or chattering sound.
Cowbirds are brood parasites. They do not build their own nests or raise their young. Instead, the female will lay eggs in the nests of other species and then remove one of the eggs of the host bird. Some host species eject the unwanted egg but most birds don’t notice and will raise the cowbird as their own.
Interesting Facts:
- Cowbirds are promiscuous, there is no pair bond. Males and females have several different mates within a single season.
- A female will lay up to 40 eggs in a season and spends her day searching for nests.
- Cowbirds will lay eggs in the nests of more than 220 species of birds.
- Cowbird eggs hatch faster than other species eggs, giving cowbird nestlings a head start in getting food from the parents.
- Cowbirds do not “imprint” on their foster families and will join the flock of cowbirds once they are grown.
Wow. When it comes to ROCD (Religious Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, fondly referred to as Scrupulosity, or Scrupe) the pesky cowbird presents a plethora of interesting comparisons. For example:
- ROCD, like the cowbird, is parasitic, prolific, and promiscuous. This spiritual/mental pest kicks one of the legitimate eggs out (like trust, hope, mercy) and lays one her own (such as anxiety, depression) in its place. Of course, it doesn’t belong in the child of God’s nest, but once inserted, Scrupe begins to feed and reproduce…abundantly. (There’s always another “what if?” And they are noisy and chattering, “whatifwhatifwhatif?”)
- The cowbird is not overly particular as to whose nest she drops her egg into. Neither is OCD is particular about what kind of manifestation it presents. Whatever is important to you—family, God, jobs, financial security, you name it—OCD will hatch its fear just about anywhere.
- Understanding and trusting God’s love and character can take time to develop; OCD’s anxiety, however, hatches rapidly and can usurp all the spiritual/mental/emotional resources thrown at it. Ever notice that reading the Bible can trigger fear and confusion? That’s the OCD gobbling up the nutrition meant for the rightful nestlings of Truth and Love, which become emaciated and weak without proper care.
- Notice that the cardinals (photo not attached) were duped into raising the cowbird as their own. They were deceived. Not a very large brain, as before noted. Never mind the alien egg clearly doesn’t look like the other eggs that belong there, it still might be their own egg! Similarly, OCD dupes us into accepting the wrong ideas, because we’re afraid of what might happen if we don’t accommodate “worse case scenario”. The problem with that is we end up nurturing the impostor instead of the real ministry God has for us. And sometimes it can be more than simply a distracting inconvenience or personal embarrassment; it can be dishonoring to the God we profess to love, and become destructive to His precious ones we are called to serve.
- Cowbirds are not loyal to the foster birds that have sacrificed to raise them (pity the cardinals); these parasites fly back to their fellow parasites! Likewise, Scrupe has no interest in our well-being, either; it has no desire to see us grow into the family of God and can even drive us away from the very flock we so desperately need.
It took some time and research for me to recognize this little avian thief.
It has also taken me a long, long time to recognize ROCD in my own life, but even if I can’t prevent it from flying around my mental “yard”, I don’t have to let it lay its egg on my head.
But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord…
For super information and insight into Scrupulosity, see Dr. Jaimie Eckert: https://scrupulosity.com/help-for-scrupulosity/
Jeremiah 9:24 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
The above title was the advertising tag for one of those insipid tabloids from years past that grace the check-out counter at the grocery store. They tend to be right there with the candy bars to make it more convenient to rot your body and soul at the same time. In my mind, tabloids rank up there with Harlequin romances and other forms of mental/emotional snake oil.
I remember when my dad sat in on my older sister’s 10th grade geometry presentation during Parent/Teacher conferences back in the day. The soon-to-be-retired teacher basically told the attending parents that geometry wasn’t all that important.
I have to fix this. 
INSPIRATION with an ATTITUDE 