Out on my customary walk with Lucy (my dog) this morning, and listening to the sounds the birds make at 5:45 a.m...

Birds sing their hearts out to greet the morning.  The only exception seems to be if it’s raining (or snowing, I suppose, although I have no personal experience of that).

Such joyous music!  And I thought:  Why doesn’t my heart automatically make such joyous sounds of praise to my God when I get up in the morning?  Am I not a higher creature than the birds?  Hasn’t my heavenly Father done infinitely more for me that for tiny birds?  Should not my praise explode from my heart spontaneously as theirs does?

Then I thought about how I allow the cares of this world to dampen my spirit.  I’m convinced that if I wasn’t so consumed with thinking about all the things I have to do and where I’m going to go and how I’m going to pay all of the bills I’ve managed to rack up for myself, my spirit would well up with a song to my Father that I wouldn’t be able to contain any more than the birds can contain theirs.

God reminded me of Jesus’ words:  “Look at the birds of the air:  they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them…Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you…”

As I continue along my new journey(more about that later), seeking simple gifts and drawing my daily living down to a place that free of distractions, I’m convinced that I will be opened up to see more of God’s work in the world, hear more clearly what He speaks through His word, and respond with praise and the clarity to do what He wants me to do.

Next time you’re out early in the morning…listen to the birds.  The songs God has given them are glorious, and yet they pale in comparison to the praises that are and will be lifted up as we walk in His presence.

And now, just because I’m me–I wanted to share this wonderful bird video from PIXAR.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ4Nnr0MXKY&_detailpage