The Song of the Whip-poor-will
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV)
From my writing desk, I watch the chickadees, nuthatches, blue jays and several others come for their seeds. I can hear them chitter and chatter to each other and it brings me great joy. I cannot mimic their sounds, but I do recognize them. They are the natural sounds of nature; I can see and hear them through the window. Ashley Clark (All God’s Creatures) has a thought-provoking devotion with some humor and deep probing questions.
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One of my favorite memories of my Grandpaw Jim is the way he would ask me every spring whether the whip-poor-will that lived near my house had arrived for another season. He loved whip-poor-wills and would stand outside his own house, mimicking their calls in hopes of getting birds to answer. Sometimes it worked well. Other times it didn’t.
One year, in a hilarious turn of events, my grandfather stepped outside on a warm spring evening and called to the whip-poor-wills, and something else answered—a mockingbird. This mockingbird became the bane of my grandfather’s existence as it began to answer each time he tried to find the whip-poor-will. Just imagine his frustration when he realized what was happening.
When we lost my grandfather last year, the family gathered at his home, and I had to smile when I stepped out of my car and heard the song of the whip-poo-will. Knowing it was out of season, I looked up to see a mockingbird perched on a light post. While the scene brought fond memories of my grandfather to mind, it also inspired me with a greater spiritual truth—that the resonance of my own life can create echoes through the world. Those around me will learn the “song” I am singing, and this song will become my legacy, continuing on in the world even after I am gone. The Bible tells us that creation declares the glory of God. The question then becomes: What kind of song am I singing?
Walk of Faith: Consider the song your life is proclaiming. When others pick up the tune, will it sound like the Lord to them? Will your song be pleasant to the ear?
Lord Jesus, thank You for the beauty, creatures, and sounds of nature. Thank You for creating us with the ability to think, speak, sing, and share Your love with others. AMEN.