Gull Envy

About a half-mile from our house, at the south end of our street, the city has built a nice recreation path running along the Rock River, through Sinnissippi Park, and ending at Hoover Park. It’s a great path for a Saturday afternoon walk. We took advantage of the milder late-winter temperatures last Saturday and hit the path for a bit of exercise.

The recent warming trend has largely cleared the river of ice, but next to the path is an inlet from the river still considerably frozen over. In fact, some ice fishermen were out in the middle of the inlet for one last attempt to lure some big ones through the ice before it all disappears this week. Frankly, as slushy as the surface was, I wouldn’t venture out on the ice—although my grandson desperately wanted to give it a go! Apparently, the fishermen knew the ice better than I.

At the east end of Sinnissippi Park, a bit beyond where the path curves inland away from the river, lies a stream flowing out of the woods, emptying into the inlet. The entire area around the stream’s mouth has thawed out. The warmer water from the stream also facilitated melting in the inlet, leaving a large area the size of a football field where the ice had disappeared. But that created a sharp line in the inlet about fifty yards from shore—water on the shore side, ice on the river side.

Birds in Action

There along the dividing line, scores of birds, mostly gulls, congregated to do some fishing of their own. Approaching the area from the west, we could hear the congregation well before we could see what all the fuss was about. Apparently, they had struck fish gold.

I’m not much of a fisherman, but I understand that those who are will avoid broadcasting the discovery of a particularly prolific fishing spot, lest a host of others descend upon their spot. It seems gulls don’t have that sense of needing to fish privately. When one bird finds a good spot, all his competitors have their eye on him and head there, too!

Watching these birds in action, I observed something very human about them. While dozens strolled on the ice at the water’s edge, one would go to the trouble of actually jumping into the icy water after some lunch. I watched as he splashed furiously while diving under the surface. A few seconds later, he resurfaced with a nice catch in his beak.

“Good for him,” I thought.

Then it happened. All the strollers came after the successful fisher-gull in an attempt to grab the fish out of his mouth. Off he flew to find a safer spot on the ice. But it’s not that easy—the moochers followed. Then up in the air he ascended, away from his attackers. And a couple relentless ones took off in hot pursuit. I watched as they zigged and zagged through the air, like a pair of World War 1 airmen in a dogfight.

Gull envy played out right in front of us.

I’ve seen it before on Florida beaches, too. A lone seagull cautiously approaches a snacking sunbather who foolishly takes pity on the scavenger. Tossing the gull a piece of a potato chip is all it takes. As soon as the chip is flipped in the air, a flock of gulls descend on the scene, all after a piece of junk food. And then they don’t leave!

Gull envy.

Would be nice if such behavior were limited to the birds. But it’s not, is it.

We’ve just endured another caustic election cycle. How much of what takes place in political warfare resembles some gulls fighting over fish and chips—except it’s power they’re after. One has it; the other wants it.

Those dirty birds show up at work, too. A parishioner shared with me a few years back that a new hire in the company came right out and told him that he wanted the man’s job—and was going to get it, no matter what it took. Fortunately the new hire became a “new fire,” but still.

Speaking of politics and envy, have you noticed how often politicians will appeal to and even foment “class envy,” stirring up the “have nots” against the “haves”?

In last year’s riots and looting in so many cities, did you notice the role envy played in it all? Looters actually admitted they felt entitled to the TV they were stealing because they didn’t have one that good. It’s as if Best Buy was the gull that caught the fish, and all the marauding gulls deserved a piece.

I suppose the examples are endless.

Ancient Envy

Given all the fighting and feelings of ill-will created by an envious heart, is it any wonder that envy is so strongly spoken against in the Bible?

The vice shows up early in the sacred pages, doesn’t it? What got Eve in trouble?

Envy.

Looking at the one piece of fruit declared off-limits, she “saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise.” So, because she wanted it and felt entitled to it, she grabbed the fruit, took a bite, and the rest is history.

And why was she solicited by the serpent in the first place? What was he after? God’s position, power, and authority.

Envy shows up in the opening pages of the Bible as well as its closing pages. The book of Revelation speaks of end-times war that typifies the battles that have raged throughout human history, particularly in the age we’re living in. In these battles, Satan, his spiritual hordes, and his human allies want what Christ possesses: a people and eternal power.

When someone just got a new car and you’re driving a 15-year-old clunker, it may seem your envy of that guy’s set of wheels is a minor thing…especially if you don’t try to steal or “key” it. But really, it’s a rather satanic spirit, envy is.

Hence, the counsel and commands from God. Notice this passage from James:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy [or envy] and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

– James 3:13–18 (ESV)

Imagine how different the next election cycle would be without envy. Or how much more productive and efficient the average corporate office or manufacturing plant would be. Or how peaceful the city streets. Or how many marriages would be saved.

Certainly, it’s a bit of a utopian pipe dream to think society can be rid of envy. Yes, in the end of the book of Revelation, it will be banished forever under the reign of Christ Jesus. Until then, though, gulls are gonna gull—it’s their nature.

But followers of Jesus have a new nature, one that enables a different way of living. Hear what Paul wrote:

For we ourselves were once…passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

— Titus 3:3–8 (ESV)

It’s far more profitable to yourself and others to devote yourself to good works—to dive after your own fish, if you will—and shun the destructive, dissipating envious heart.