Voices: How I remember Professor Craig Bird

My former professor Craig Bird passed away Dec. 12.

When I was a student at the Baptist University of the Américas, one of my interests was learning the meaning of biblical words in Hebrew and Greek. Professor Bird and I frequently discussed the meaning of biblical words.

The Hebrew word for ‘bird’ is tsipor. The Latinized word is Zipporah, Moses’ Midianite wife. Today, we see this word in ads for a retail store named Sephora.

The biblical Greek word for ‘bird’ is ‘orneon,’ from which we get ornithology, or the study of birds.

What do these ‘bird’ terms in their original biblical languages matter? Well, it matters to me, now, because I didn’t know this information until I was informed of Professor Bird’s passing away.

From a secular perspective, I will remember Professor Bird, now, when I hear the famous lyrics from ‘Free Bird’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd and ‘Free as a Bird’ by The Beattles.

“If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on now, cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see
cause I’m free as a bird now, and this bird you cannot change.”
(Allen Collins / Ronnie Van Zant; Universal Music Publishing Group.)

“Free as a bird, it’s the next best thing to be, free as a bird,
Home, home and dry, like a homing bird I’ll fly, as a bird on wings.”
(Richard Starkey / George Harrison / Josh Winston Lennon / Paul James McCartney; Lenono Music.)

From a biblical perspective, I will remember Professor Bird by Isaiah 57:1-2.

“The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death” (NIV).

My rides with Professor Bird

Professor Bird went out of his way for me when I was a student. I was married with children, working full time, taking evening classes and did not have a vehicle.

One day, Professor Bird asked if I needed a ride, and I declined because it was out of his way. Jokingly, he said, “Everyway is out of my way.”

“If you have a class in the evening when I teach, I will drive you home,” he said.

He not only drove me home, but he also got out of the car and walked up the stairs with me to my apartment to tell my wife he wanted to be sure I was brought home. He meant all the way inside my home.

Throughout those rides, we shared various conversations about secular or biblical theories. He never said to me, “I disagree with you.” He always said, “I never thought about it that way before.”

Throughout those rides, we learned from each other. Today, I can say, jokingly, he was my personal Uber before Uber was invented.

Professor Bird’s critique

After graduating from BUA, I enrolled at Wayland Baptist University and began my master’s thesis, “A Reassessment of Messianic Interpretation in the Dead Sea Scrolls.” I telephoned Professor Bird for his journalistic advice concerning the introduction to my thesis.

He responded, “Let me go to your place, so I can see what you have so far to know how to continue, because it will be difficult to explain by phone.”

He came to my home and read what I had already written. He began discussing the literary life and journalism. As he continued his speech, I did not want to interrupt.

He looked at the time and said, “I have been talking and talking, and I did not know two hours had passed. Well, Cristian, I have to leave, but you seem to know what you’re doing with the introduction. Have a good night.”

He then said “good night” to my family and went on his way. That was his character, free as a bird.

Professor Bird on missions

Professor Bird taught me so much about missions and the importance of learning the language and culture of the country where one is being sent to do the Lord’s work.

He said too many young Christians want to travel to other countries as missionaries, with the idea that as soon as they arrive on foreign soil, they will just begin sharing the gospel with strangers in a strange land.

Professor Bird taught me one must learn the culture and at least some of the basic day-to-day terms in the language for the residents to respect the missionary. Otherwise, they will not give you the time of day to even face them. In other words, when in Rome, do as the Romans.

Professor Bird said: “If you’re in Africa, dress like them, eat with them, walk with them—even in silence, respect and honor. When the time comes to sit with them, they can discuss their beliefs first. In this way, one opens the window to have a conversation—even if by means of a translator—and, eventually, to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I will miss Professor Bird. He was a faithful servant in and out of the university. My family was blessed to have met him. We were invited to his home for Christmas on one occasion and were blessed to meet his wife. He was charming and comical.

As much as he tried to be the ‘strict’ professor from time to time, he could not; it was not in his nature. His charm was too great to be contained.

Cristian Cervantes is an adjunct lecturer of Biblical and Theological Studies at Baptist University of the Américas and a member of First Baptist Church in San Antonio. The views expressed are those of the author.

The photo of Craig and Melissa Bird was taken by Brenda Cavalcanti. To contact her or to see her portfolio, visit Brenda Cavalcanti Photography’s Facebook page.