Today was such a beautiful day here in southwest Michigan! Jim took a picture of the sunrise on his way to work and shared it with me, so I put it at the top of this post. It was hard to stay inside, today. But the guys were busy with outside work, so I decided to re-purpose some empty bottles and make some drinking glasses.
I don’t make glasses to save money. Even though it is technically free (that is, I don’t have to buy anything), I spend time. I clean the bottles, strip the labels, score and break the glass, and then sand it smooth so we can use it. But I needed time to think, and when my hands are busy, it’s easier. (Plus, I just like making things for our family.)
When I came outside for some air after sanding a glass, I heard familiar birdsong in the backyard. My heart leaped because I know that little bird. We call it “Tony’s wren,” because Tony was the first to notice her, and she seems to fly out to be near him when he is outside.
This morning, I had just listened to Karen Carpenter’s song, “Close to you,” and I remembered the lyric, “Why do birds/suddenly appear/every time you are near? Just like me/they long to be/close to you.”
This was the first time I noticed her song this year. We always stop and listen because her song is usually so sweet and so brief. But this time, the song went on and on. (Maybe she want to make sure Tony noticed she came back!)
I recorded the song so you could hear part of it.
We have often heard her, but rarely get to see her. She is so small, and shy. But today, Beau caught sight of her and ran to get the miracle camera.
She was singing with her beak pointing up, almost as if she was lifting her praise for this beautiful day to God. See how blue the sky is? It’s been so long since we’ve had clear blue sky like this!
We wondered what species she was. Tony has always called her a wren, so we used the clues from Beau’s pictures to try to identify her. See the long white “eyebrow” above her eyes?
There are three main species of wren with that white stripe: the Bewick wren, the Carolina wren and the House wren.
Once we looked at the range of the three contenders, we realized it had to be either the Carolina Wren or the House wren, for the Bewick wren is only in the western USA. And the House wren doesn’t have the orange color, or the same song, so our little wren must be a Carolina wren.
And the article said that only the males sing. Oops, it’s a male.
Once he spotted Beau looking up at him, he became a little more shy. All of these pictures were taken from about 40 feet away, and pointing up into the tree. These pictures are zoomed in very close, but I hope you can see that he really is a tiny bird (less that 5 inches). Still, he has a powerful set of lungs.
After singing for a good twenty minutes, he pointed his little beak at the sky once more, and sang one more song. Then off he went. Tony and Beau went back to working on the car, and I went back to my glass cutting.
I used to feel silly because these little things catch my attention, but then I remember that God, who placed the stars in the heavens, and designed, say, the Pacific islands; also made the small things, including this wren. He fashioned the serious little eyes, gave him his song, and painted his feathers.
Is it foolish to admire this sweet wren who worships God so freely up in the highest canopy of the walnut tree? To the contrary; I think it’s foolish not to notice! For isn’t your heart a little lighter after spending a minute thinking of this wren?
Jesus told us to consider the birds:
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” (Matthew 6:25-26 NLT)
I used to envy the birds when I was a child in school, looking out the window and wishing I could fly away. Maybe God made the birds to be a symbol of liberty for us, a reminder that we truly have nothing to worry about.
How wonderful to let my worries go, and be thankful for what I have. How freeing to let my stress melt away, and simply praise my Creator! I pray you have a wonderful day, whenever you read this. Much love, my dear friends!
The Fullers Four 