Why Do Birds Sing?
Yesterday morning when the alarm went off, I laid there trying to decide whether or not I should snooze for another few minutes. Outside our bedroom window is a large tree. From its branches I could easily and clearly hear the song of one little bird. It was quite beautiful, and much more pleasant to wake up to than the bleating of an alarm clock.
This morning the tree had a choir of birds heartily singing away. And while I knew from the different songs that there had to be at least three or four different kinds of birds going at it, each kind with its different song, their combined song did not clash, but was again quite beautiful.
It made me think about why birds sing.
If you watch Animal Planet or other nature shows, birds sing to attract a mate, or to outline and defend their territory. Maybe for some birds singing is also a primitive form of communication: "Hey, there's a cat skulking up - beware!" or "Check this out, lazy boy filled the bird feeder - it's chow time!"
In the mechanistic world of modern science, something as utterly lovely as a bird's song is reduced to the merely utilitarian. It's not enough that birds sing. Science can't justify it unless it serves some purpose.
But the reality of the world that God created is this: He created it good. Very good. Yes, it is fallen and suffers terribly under the curse of the Fall. But there are things in this life, things in this world, that are beautiful for no other reason than that's the way God created them to be.
God tells us in Philippians 4:8, through Paul:
Think about it!
This morning the tree had a choir of birds heartily singing away. And while I knew from the different songs that there had to be at least three or four different kinds of birds going at it, each kind with its different song, their combined song did not clash, but was again quite beautiful.
It made me think about why birds sing.
If you watch Animal Planet or other nature shows, birds sing to attract a mate, or to outline and defend their territory. Maybe for some birds singing is also a primitive form of communication: "Hey, there's a cat skulking up - beware!" or "Check this out, lazy boy filled the bird feeder - it's chow time!"
In the mechanistic world of modern science, something as utterly lovely as a bird's song is reduced to the merely utilitarian. It's not enough that birds sing. Science can't justify it unless it serves some purpose.
But the reality of the world that God created is this: He created it good. Very good. Yes, it is fallen and suffers terribly under the curse of the Fall. But there are things in this life, things in this world, that are beautiful for no other reason than that's the way God created them to be.
God tells us in Philippians 4:8, through Paul:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.When was the last time you simply sat and thought about, really deeply contemplated, let your mind dwell upon, the kinds of things in the list above?
Think about it!
Labels: God's Creation
Hey Mr. M,
Thanks for this post! I read it several days ago and it has really brought to my attention the blessings God has provided around me. I now hear the birds, see the grasshoppers, even the flowers around me! It's so much easier to rush through life or even define it as you described in your post. But your words reminded me to be blessed by it instead....
Posted by
Gina Marie |
4/28/07, 9:15 AM
Thanks for stopping by! It's nice to know that peeps are visiting and leaving a comment or two.
Posted by
Martin |
4/30/07, 7:39 AM