Mom Your Were Spot On! Thank You!

When I was in 2nd grade I had an amazing teacher. One day she heard news that an endangered bird called “the Whooping Crane” was spotted on a lake near our little town of White Lake, South Dakota. And so, that morning before we were even awake, she was over knocking on her neighbor’s door. It was 6 a.m.! She woke him up. He was pretty upset about it, but she must have been pretty persuasive, because when we got to school, there were 6 school buses waiting for us. That morning the entire k-12 school in White Lake, South Dakota went out to “White Lake” and got a glimpse of something I will never forget. Our first and only sighting of an endangered species. I still get goosebumps thinking about it!

That teacher, by the way, was my mother! And that neighbor...the superintendent!

Ever since that moment, I have been fascinated by flying feathered objects. This past winter, Cyndy and I have been graced by a small pod of trumpeter swans. Another endangered bird. Almost every evening we see them flying in a majestic V over our house. On foggy evenings they almost brush our shoulders with their wings. It gives me chills every time it happens!

Later this winter, inspired by those Trumpeters, I decided to put out some bird feeders in our front yard. Oh, the joy these birds bring to my soul. Every morning, before I get my coffee, my eyes are glued to the bird feeders. Cyndy is often next to me! We’ve seen Dark-eyed Junco’s, Golden Crowned Sparrows, House Finches, Spotted Towhees, Northern Flickers, and a mob (or is it a murder?) of Crows! What a joy! When Emerson comes over, she almost sprints to the binoculars to see what treasure God has in store for us!

One Sunday afternoon, Devon and Cassie came over to see what all the commotion was about! They thought we were watching the Seahawk game. They thought the Seahawks had just scored a touchdown! They were wrong. We weren’t watching TV. We were watching our bird feeders! We had just witnessed a Downy Woodpecker feeding on our suet tray! What can I say, we are big gans!

And by the way, scientists have done some studies on these two practices. Super bowls are great fun, but they are not nearly as healthy and “peace giving” as a morning watching the wonder of God’s creation out around your bird feeder. Watching birds is good for your brain!

Folks, this is a serious spiritual practice we are missing! Mom is right! Go wake up your neighbors! Charter the next bus! Next time you hear news of a Whooping Crane nearby, turn off the TV! I don't care if it's the Super Bowl! This is that important! You want to get closer to our God? You want to feel the brush of heaven on your heart? Listen for the gentle wings of a Trumpeter gliding over your roof! Hear the good cheer of a red-winged blackbird greeting the morning! Listen to the Chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee of a Black Capped Chickadee. Start paying attention to the diversity of their calls and the variety of their colors. Our God in all her splendor and majesty!

Thanks for getting me hooked, Mom! You really knew how to lead us into ways that bring more life!

I’m just sorry, the superintendent made you pull winter recess duty all winter long because of it. Thanks for your sacrifice! It inspired me to fly!

Your friend and pastor, patiently waiting for Washington’s finest...the Gold Finch...to enteer my feeder space, Brook