A Bird’s View
Confession: I’m suspicious of most rodents and fowl. I know that my bird-watching friends will be exasperated that I lumped the predator with the prey. I’m not an ornithologist (that’s someone who studies birds … I looked it up), but I do find both species rather erratic. They silently stare at you, then start darting or fluttering at an alarming, instinctual rate.
While humans have developed hygienic systems to deal with their pets’ digestive offerings, fowls and rodents have little regard for your cleanliness. Their audacious droppings confirm where they’ve been or what perch they’ve loved.
When my son was seven, he developed a fascination for owls (obviously not due to my genetics). He had a calendar of severe owl faces hanging in his room, and I acquired an eclectic repertoire of owl trivia. I admit owls are complex and fascinating birds, but I’m grateful they prefer a nocturnal habit.
Surprisingly, I’ve been enjoying the incessant music of songbirds this summer. Trilling and chirping is the relaxing soundtrack in my garden plot, on the sunny patio, and through our open bedroom window. How can a bird’s song not point to its’ Creator? I remember a tune from my childhood:
“The birdies in the treetops sing their song;
The angels chant their chorus all day long
The flowers in the meadow blend their hue
So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you
Praise Him too?”
(Traditional children’s chorus, as sung by Cedarmont Kids, 1995)
I suspect one of the reasons that birds can soar and swoop with ease is because of their simple trust in their Maker’s provision. As Jesus said, the birds need not worry about their food supply because their heavenly Father feeds them (Matthew 6:26). A childlike faith produces a songbird joy that breaks out in praise! It reminds me of my favorite bird call from the black-capped chickadee. Most people think the chickadee chirps, “Hey, Sweetie.” But I’ve always thought it sounds more like, “He did it. He did it.” For me, chickadees have always pointed to the Creator of the world, the author of our salvation—the one who did it all for our salvation and holds all things by his sustaining word (Hebrews 1:3).
I thought about this while reading Romans 4 about Abraham who “did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God,” and whose faith was “credited to him as righteousness” (vv. 20, 22). Abraham, a hero of our faith and a friend of God “was strengthened [or grew strong] in his faith and gave glory to God” (v. 20). Isn’t that encouraging? Our faith might be weaker than we’d like, but it can increase! We can anticipate a trajectory of maturity instead of a continual faltering—a renewal of our strength like the eagles—to continue the bird theme (Isaiah 40:31). Throughout this process, Abraham gave glory to God who is the righteous receiver of all praise that resounds from the tiniest songbird in my backyard to the grateful shouts of his redeemed.
