Encountering Vibrancy

He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.

“Mom, there is a bird whose song goes like this: co-OOO-oo co-OOO-oo.” Jon stomped his feet on the front door rug, then bent to take off his shoes. “It’s my favorite birdsong. I wish I knew what kind of bird it is.”

“That’s a mourning dove, buddy,” I responded from where I sat folding clothes. “And I agree, they have one of the prettiest songs.”

One of my favorite parts of summer is the birdsong soundtrack to my outdoor life. My dad taught me to identify several bird species by sight as well as solely by their songs, which means the recognizable trills and tweets of robins, cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, and—of course—mourning doves accompany me on walks, in my garden, and even as I dash from house to car, late for a meeting or errand. And my ability to identify a variety of local rocks and plants means that a walk with me results in frequent starts and stops as I pause to examine flora and fauna. While my walking companion may (or may not) enjoy my meandering, having a rudimentary knowledge of the rocks, plants, and birds around me brings me immense joy.

One of the ways I feel close to God is through encountering his creation. And there is something—for me at least—that brings a vibrancy and a richness to that experience when I can identify small, beautiful details that otherwise tend to fade into the background unnoticed—like birdsong. This desire to find vibrancy fed my interest in identifying planets visible to the naked eye and constellations in the Northern Hemisphere, and it fuels my search for agates, rocks I’ve been hunting and collecting into an ever-growing stash since childhood.

The vibrancy of God’s creation reminds me of his authority over the heavens, the earth, and every tiny detail in between. If he holds the stars in the palm of his hand and yet also cares for the lilies of the field, I can entrust myself and my beloved ones to his all-encompassing sovereignty. That ongoing, constant reminder swells my heart with thanksgiving.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Consider the details you love to notice as an ongoing recognition of God’s authority over the heavens and earth.