I am thrilled to share the pre-order link for this book, to which I contributed two devotionals. One story features a favorite animal with literary connections, and the other, an Edenic island. Both messages point to God's hopeful Word in the world.
I am thrilled to share the pre-order link for this book, to which I contributed two devotionals. One story features a favorite animal with literary connections, and the other, an Edenic island. Both messages point to God's hopeful Word in the world.
Tonight, at bedtime, a screech from an American Barn Owl. And, thus, Lent concludes. So grateful for God's teaching me to be still more often and allowing me to feel waves of grief in His loving presence, and among His birds of the air. In so much loss, God finds.
Tonight, at bedtime, a screech from an American Barn Owl. And, thus, Lent concludes. So grateful for God's teaching me to be still more often and allowing me to feel waves of grief in His loving presence, and among His birds of the air. In so much loss, God finds.
Yep, I've caught the bug that's going around. From my bedroom window, while scarfing down potato chips, I watched the Lesser goldfinches, who visit the lavender bush daily. They, too, were ravenously eating their afternoon snack of seeds from the lavender buds. Grateful.
Yep, I've caught the bug that's going around. From my bedroom window, while scarfing down potato chips, I watched the Lesser goldfinches, who visit the lavender bush daily. They, too, were ravenously eating their afternoon snack of seeds from the lavender buds. Grateful.
Hot again today, and I'm languishing in the heat. Probably coming down with something. Today's birds were European starlings, quite a few, and also--a plethora of squirrels. Lizards. Mountain Ebony blossoms. Being a birder means I notice everything in nature, most days.
Hot again today, and I'm languishing in the heat. Probably coming down with something. Today's birds were European starlings, quite a few, and also--a plethora of squirrels. Lizards. Mountain Ebony blossoms. Being a birder means I notice everything in nature, most days.
Went for an afternoon walk and it was hot! Summer, apparently, is here. I heard and saw acorn woodpeckers. Their chatter mingled with the call of mourning doves. Halfway to home, I heard my friend, the mockingbird. Welcomed the opportunity to sit in the shade and listen.
Went for an afternoon walk and it was hot! Summer, apparently, is here. I heard and saw acorn woodpeckers. Their chatter mingled with the call of mourning doves. Halfway to home, I heard my friend, the mockingbird. Welcomed the opportunity to sit in the shade and listen.
While eating an early lunch at my favorite restaurant, movement from the sky out the window caught my eye. I saw a hawk fly into the top of a palm tree. It was lovely. A pleasant surprise in my day. God does give us these joyful moments to keep us in hopeful anticipation.
While eating an early lunch at my favorite restaurant, movement from the sky out the window caught my eye. I saw a hawk fly into the top of a palm tree. It was lovely. A pleasant surprise in my day. God does give us these joyful moments to keep us in hopeful anticipation.
Yesterday, I was in a new part of town for a new job! Saw and heard birds I hadn't before in my neck of the woods. Hammond's Flycatcher! Brewer's Blackbird! House Sparrow, and finally, a Song Sparrow! And a Red-winged Blackbird; wish I could have seen it. Merlin heard it.
Yesterday, I was in a new part of town for a new job! Saw and heard birds I hadn't before in my neck of the woods. Hammond's Flycatcher! Brewer's Blackbird! House Sparrow, and finally, a Song Sparrow! And a Red-winged Blackbird; wish I could have seen it. Merlin heard it.
I went out first thing this morning to have time with birds and the Lord. Merlin recorded so many! Myriad voices soloing and overlapping one another in the dawn chorus. Like an assortment of Dickens characters or the polyvocality in Shakespeare, the birds of the air.
I went out first thing this morning to have time with birds and the Lord. Merlin recorded so many! Myriad voices soloing and overlapping one another in the dawn chorus. Like an assortment of Dickens characters or the polyvocality in Shakespeare, the birds of the air.
I spend longer than 10 minutes with the birds. I have time, and these long stretches soothe my spirit. I'm like a bird, with ruffled feathers and racing heart. Then, gradually and almost imperceptibly, I become still. The sparrows become bold to approach.
I spend longer than 10 minutes with the birds. I have time, and these long stretches soothe my spirit. I'm like a bird, with ruffled feathers and racing heart. Then, gradually and almost imperceptibly, I become still. The sparrows become bold to approach.
I'm finding a rhythm now in my life to make room for birds...and God...and silence. It's getting easier to remember to meet God with the birds and also to settle my spirit as I wait. The Merlin app helps; I can just press "record" and sit and anticipate, in a soft way.
I'm finding a rhythm now in my life to make room for birds...and God...and silence. It's getting easier to remember to meet God with the birds and also to settle my spirit as I wait. The Merlin app helps; I can just press "record" and sit and anticipate, in a soft way.
I saw a red-whiskered bulbul for the first time (or at least, the first time of which I'm aware). I heard it first and Merlin identified it. Then, I saw it. It's a cool-looking bird! And, it's got a great reputation for being an escape artist. Inspiring!
I saw a red-whiskered bulbul for the first time (or at least, the first time of which I'm aware). I heard it first and Merlin identified it. Then, I saw it. It's a cool-looking bird! And, it's got a great reputation for being an escape artist. Inspiring!
Towhees and crickets overlapping. Cares from the day still "chipping" as night falls. It's time for rest.
Towhees and crickets overlapping. Cares from the day still "chipping" as night falls. It's time for rest.
Today's bird was a lesser goldfinch. (We are blessed to have lots of these birds visit every day!) He was balanced beautifully on a stem of my beloved and hardy cosmos, under the canopy of the flower itself. Cheered my heart instantly.
Today's bird was a lesser goldfinch. (We are blessed to have lots of these birds visit every day!) He was balanced beautifully on a stem of my beloved and hardy cosmos, under the canopy of the flower itself. Cheered my heart instantly.
Today, at the tail end of Lent, was maybe the first time I truly just sat and relaxed and waited. Birdsong in the background, identifiable as house finch. Wind blowing through the trees, and rustling away cobwebs inside me. New month. We're heading properly into spring.
Today, at the tail end of Lent, was maybe the first time I truly just sat and relaxed and waited. Birdsong in the background, identifiable as house finch. Wind blowing through the trees, and rustling away cobwebs inside me. New month. We're heading properly into spring.
Before drifting off to sleep, I heard #aBirdFromTheLord. An owl screeching, probably winging into the night. Owls are some of my favorites, and when I hear them before sleep, it's like a hug from God.
Before drifting off to sleep, I heard #aBirdFromTheLord. An owl screeching, probably winging into the night. Owls are some of my favorites, and when I hear them before sleep, it's like a hug from God.
At church, we sang the song "This Good Day," by Fernando Ortega. I was struck by the bird-y lyrics:
"Noisy sparrows fill the oak trees
Swallows can't stay still
And in the glad commotion
Lord, You speak to me"
A joyful noise. With the birds. With the Lord.
At church, we sang the song "This Good Day," by Fernando Ortega. I was struck by the bird-y lyrics:
"Noisy sparrows fill the oak trees
Swallows can't stay still
And in the glad commotion
Lord, You speak to me"
A joyful noise. With the birds. With the Lord.
I'm a birder for the connections I feel with the commonest of winged friends. I love seeing my little brown birds, the sparrows, every day. They are reassuring to me, in their ubiquity and predictability. There is such peace in witnessing ordinary loveliness.
I'm a birder for the connections I feel with the commonest of winged friends. I love seeing my little brown birds, the sparrows, every day. They are reassuring to me, in their ubiquity and predictability. There is such peace in witnessing ordinary loveliness.
I enjoy evenings waiting for the birds. I hung up a replacement feeder with nutcake this late afternoon and was treated to a white-crowned sparrow and California towhee once more. I feel like Sara Crewe these days, a lonely heart, who is lightened by winged Melchisedecs.
I enjoy evenings waiting for the birds. I hung up a replacement feeder with nutcake this late afternoon and was treated to a white-crowned sparrow and California towhee once more. I feel like Sara Crewe these days, a lonely heart, who is lightened by winged Melchisedecs.
At our Bird Fest taxidermy table, kids met "real" birds: woodpeckers, an owl, the feet and wing of a red-tailed hawk, and the skull of a raven. Gentle hands, reverencing beauty, even after death. I held the wing to measure their own arms. "Rest in pieces," one said. Amen.
At our Bird Fest taxidermy table, kids met "real" birds: woodpeckers, an owl, the feet and wing of a red-tailed hawk, and the skull of a raven. Gentle hands, reverencing beauty, even after death. I held the wing to measure their own arms. "Rest in pieces," one said. Amen.
A parliament of crows against a gray sky at evening. Earlier at lunchtime, I found my flock at the counter of the local diner. Conversing with people, new friends and old, makes me think we're a bit like crows, congregating for a bit before we fly to our separate roosts.
A parliament of crows against a gray sky at evening. Earlier at lunchtime, I found my flock at the counter of the local diner. Conversing with people, new friends and old, makes me think we're a bit like crows, congregating for a bit before we fly to our separate roosts.
I steal away to my backyard with a book and hear birdsong. I don't have my feeder up anymore so I haven't been seeing the white-crowned sparrows or towhees. I miss them. I was rewarded with a regular afternoon visitor, a mockingbird. Its song is like water from a well.
I steal away to my backyard with a book and hear birdsong. I don't have my feeder up anymore so I haven't been seeing the white-crowned sparrows or towhees. I miss them. I was rewarded with a regular afternoon visitor, a mockingbird. Its song is like water from a well.
Sat on my rock in the backyard, with a cheery novel about flowers, and waited. A crow hung out for awhile atop the power line. Caw-caw! Caw-caw! I called to him in imitation, and then felt a bit funny. He cocked his head and listened. Wonder what he thought I said.
Sat on my rock in the backyard, with a cheery novel about flowers, and waited. A crow hung out for awhile atop the power line. Caw-caw! Caw-caw! I called to him in imitation, and then felt a bit funny. He cocked his head and listened. Wonder what he thought I said.
I spent time with our Cooper's hawks. Their call sounds oddly like laughter to me, but is an alarm to protect the nest. Hawk's mate was transporting a twig. Crow caused an altercation. Met neighbor who admires the hawks, too--and prays for them.
I spent time with our Cooper's hawks. Their call sounds oddly like laughter to me, but is an alarm to protect the nest. Hawk's mate was transporting a twig. Crow caused an altercation. Met neighbor who admires the hawks, too--and prays for them.
A plethora of birds today with the local Audubon society. My favorite was the Northern flicker. (I saw this bird for the first time today--and through a scope!) Nice red feathers and long, dark beak. A participant said, "When you hear the birds, you're at peace." Truth.
A plethora of birds today with the local Audubon society. My favorite was the Northern flicker. (I saw this bird for the first time today--and through a scope!) Nice red feathers and long, dark beak. A participant said, "When you hear the birds, you're at peace." Truth.