Thought for Today
Genesis 1:20 And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky."
Psalm 50:11 I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine.
Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Luke 13:19 It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."
Today is trash pickup day in our neighborhood. If you looked at those verses above, you probably were expecting some profound dissertation on birds. But, incredible as it may seem, this morning I do find a connection between taking out the garbage and the avian kingdom.
As I exited our garage to take the trashcan to the curb, I was assailed by a cacophony of sound. There were so many different bird species greeting the dawning of the day, I could not even identify their individual songs.
Hearing their joyful songs in the early morning was a wonderful reminder of the width, breadth and depth of God’s Creation. It was also a great reminder of the attention to detail God put into Creation. “There are approximately 11,000 recognized species of birds worldwide, with estimates ranging from 11,017 to 11,524 depending on the classification system used.” (Copilot Search) I can probably identify at least 3 or 4 unaided by any app or reference books.
During the isolation of the Pandemic, Greta and I spent countless hours on our patio, continuously entertained by the birds in the field behind our home. At one point I even downloaded the Audubon app to help me identify some of the birds. We loved to watch those birds soar, riding on the thermal currents in the air. We were entertained by the music of their various songs. We remain fascinated by the variety of bird species we see in our own backyard. Yesterday, I mounted the hummingbird feeder on the window of our sunroom where I work on my computer. I’ve yet to see a hummingbird at the feeder, but I did see one in the apple tree outside the window.
Some scientists believe all of those birds we see are descended from the dinosaurs. The various arguments are far beyond my own avian knowledge. I must admit that none of the birds I watch or hear remind me of the velociraptors I saw in the movie Jurassic Park. The whole issue does make me wonder whether any dinosaur species sang the sort of songs I heard this morning.
Irrespective of the process by which our Creator God provided me with that music this morning, evolution or creationism, and irrespective of why God did so, I do thank our Creator God for the music provided as those birds greet the dawn.
As I ponder the whys and wherefores of those 11,000 different species, I am amazed at their variation in song and in function. For me, they are an example of God’s attention to detail. God has provided predatory hunters like the various raptors, hawks, falcons, eagles which help control the populations of many different animals like squirrels, rabbits, mice, etc. Many bird species are invaluable in the propagation of plant seeds. Other bird species are valuable sources of our own nutrition, chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. Some, like the brilliant yellow bird I see right now outside in the apple tree are surely a delight to my eyes. All, irrespective of size, song or purpose are gifts from our Creator God.
All of the “swarms of living creatures, and . . . birds” remind me of another truth from the Bible, “Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” That truth is captured in one of my favorite hymns, “God’s Eye Is on the Sparrow.” I love the refrain, “I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God watches me.”
When you step outside and hear the harmony of nature, the music of the birds singing, let that music remind you of our Creator God and of God’s love. Let it fill your own life with song and joy about the God of John 3:16-17. Let it remind you of another hymn from our youth, “Jesus Loves Me.”
Stay safe, relish the song of God’s Creation, trust God,
Pastor Ray