Lying in bed with my eyes shut, I was watching the picture of blue birds flying around and soaking up the feeling of sheer freedom, in a group yet also within their own space … not behind bars chirruping to please the curious onlookers passing by. The bluebirds visited me in this way several times until I decided to take the challenge of painting them.
The background was originally going to be simple, cerulean blue like the sky on a clear day, that was until my son commented that it could be something else and not plain – but what something else Lord, I had a back drop from the whole world to chose from. My prayer was heard and as I awoke from sleep in the early hours of the morning, sat on the edge of my bed I had the song “there’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of dover” ringing in my ears … please Lord, not that it is so corny! – but once it had been heard it couldn’t be unheard. You may say it is pretty obvious that this song came, and maybe it was, but non-the-less I chose to go along with it and shoulder any criticism.
There is so much in this piece of work about freedom that it would take a whole chapter to expound, so in brief it is shown by the birds in fight, the song “the white cliffs of Dover” heralding in a time of freedom from those who had been living in fear of captivity, and the significance of this part of England’s coastline during the second world war.
When this was first shown at Loved to Worship event in May 2024, I also read a poem where I had attempted to put into words the meaning. There is freedom for us all in Christ Jesus and He gives us the victory – and that day will most certainly come when we leave the empty cage behind and spread our wings and fly.
“Freedom “
The bluebirds are coming to England, adorned in royal blue plumes and singing beautiful tunes.
Under the radar they slip, no threat, no battle cry, no artillary or skilled pilot to prove their supremacy of the sky.
Migrating from round heaven’s throne and rainbow hues, gently anointed by the King of Kings to bring freedom to those in cages, restricted by themselves or maybe others, watching from safe places behind bars, tears dropping to the carpet and broken voices utter “how can I sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?”
So as this flock of songbirds arrive, expression is found and freedom too, the doors are opening, keys turning in locks, adventure now possible, the greys dissipating to the limitless blue
… so step out of the shadows and into the light and fly, spread your wings, sing your songs and be free to be all you have been created to be.
