Just A Sparrow?

I was out and about earlier today, doing errands. As I drove along, I saw the flicker of a bird out of the corner of my eye. Interested to see what type a bird it was, I took a closer look. It was a sparrow.

I sighed, and quickly dismissed it and drove on. And then it struck me. This little sparrow is one of God's creatures. And God loves all of his creatures just like he loves each of his children.. despite our flaws. He loves us no matter what, he loves us unconditionally.

Humbled, I considered this more. I once took an ornithology class at a local Audubon center. We looked at slide after slide of birds. Ooohing and awing over the beauty of various warblers, hawks, eagles and other raptors. We cooed over adorable chickadees, wrens and hummingbirds. And we looked at pictures of slides of starlings and sparrows... and when it was apparent that the group was eager to look at the prettier birds, we were told "There are no bad birds". And I discovered this with starlings a couple of years ago. Starlings are often considered to be nuisance birds. But when you get a good look at one, in the right light... they are quite beautiful in their own right. I'm also reminded of the story of the ugly duckling... who was written off until it turned into a beautiful swan.

As humans we are fickle, and at times shallow and superficial. There are the "beautiful people, who pluck and preen endlessly, tweaking and twittering to be the prettiest they can be. It often seems that they are valued more because of their beauty. There are some of us who are predators, powerful Raptors who prowl the skies looking for their next conquest and these are valued for their power and dominance. There are those of us who are tiny and mighty like a hummingbird, and valued for not only their beauty but for their bravado and spirit. Then there are people who are ordinary... like a robin or a wren... valued for contributing to society, for being good little worker bees! And then there are those who, by societies standards, are not "the beautiful people".. they are the sparrows, the starling and the grackles. Often considered to be pests and nuisances, it seems that some would write them off, without a glance... just as they would a junk yard dog, or even a dandelion...

...just like I did earlier today... when I realized it "was just a sparrow". While it was not a proud moment... it was humbling... and in a flash, I gained valuable insight. God loves each and everyone of us.. His children. Just as he loves each and every one of his creatures, and He asked us to love one another as our brothers and sisters.

As humans, we come in every shape and size, making up an amazing patchwork quilt of diverse colors, shapes, and patterns. And when you add the rest of God's creatures to that same patchwork quilt, it becomes quite dazzling... and basks in the warmth of God's love. In closing, Mankind can be awesome. When we're at our best, we are loving and kind... caring and compassionate... extending hands to fellow humans and the rest of God's creatures... accepting and loving them for who they are, not what we want them to be.

I thank God, for the insight I had today. I'll never look at a sparrow the same way again. Instead, I will look at it with appreciation, and give thanks to God for all His creation and for His love. Amen.

Earth Day 2010 - Celebrating my appreciation of God's Creation

As I meander through my days, I often stop and take pictures of things that I find beautiful... of things that are sometimes simple, and other times, incricate. I'd like to share them with you here, throughout this blog.

God has given us amazing beauty. It surrounds us. But we overlook it as we go through our days and busy schedules. It's amazing what we can notice... what we can see, hear and smell when we take time to just "be". I once took 20 minutes to just sit and "be".... and during that 20 minutes I heard dogs barking, children laughing, the splashing of a nearby fountain and birdsong.

“Consider the birds: they do not plant seeds or harvest them, they
have neither cellar nor barn to store their wealth, yet God feeds them.” (Luke
12:24)

During these same 20 minutes, I observed a bumble bee floarting around lazily and gracefully; a moth danicing its way across the yard and a myriad of birds including chickadees, robins, cardinals, wrens, woodpeckers to name a few. All of these seemed like "alot" to notice. It was 20 minutes very well spent! The Glory of God's creation surrounds us. Even in the midst of ugliness one can often find beauty. It's simply a matter of looking for it.

This is a clematis. It grew on a trellis on our garage. There were weeds surrounding it, and the trellis was in need of painting. But focusing on the blossom... taking a close look, erases all of the ugliness, and shows the beauty of the blossom. It makes me think that that is the same with human beings. Perhaps if we spent more time taking a closer look, we'd find treasure!



Frozen Frost on a tree... walking to church, freezing...but being awed by the beauty.... reminding us again that God is so good!

After the rain, I found this leaf on top of our thrash cans. The earth had been nourished, the remaining raindrops reminded me of diamonds!This prayer can be said in conjunction with the novena to St. Isidore:

O God, in Whom we live and move, and have our being, grant us rain, in due
abundance, that, being sufficiently helped with temporal, we may the more
confidently seek after eternal gifts. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

So during this week of Earth Day Celebrations, I encourage you to take some time to just "be". Take a walk, sit quietly on a bench. Look at flowers, listen to birdsong. Pray for those who can't see, hear of feel the beauty of God's creation. Reflect on the glory of God's creatoin and give praise and thanks to God. Plant a garden and feed the birds. In closing:

Prayer on Contemplating Nature

You, O God, Majestic Creator, are the origin of all life.
Nothing can exclude itself from your creative influence.
You are wonderful in your words and in your sovereignty.
Amazed, I contemplate the perfection of the world
You created for human beings.
You are unmatched in your power and in your goodness.
O Lord, you direct like a conductor the orchestration of a storm,
and you shape like a sculptor the petals of a flower.
You are prodigious in your majesty and in your wisdom.
Lord, you have fashioned human beings to accept
the challenges of nature and to be your voice in creation.
O Lord and King, Majestic Creator,

You have made your mystery transparent,
in the world you have created.
I worship you in your creation and in your providence.

Amen.

~~~~~~~

Here I Am Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.

I who made the stars and night
I will make the darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.

I the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people's pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone
Fill their hearts with love alone
I will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.
I will hold your people in my heart...

(a video of this lovely hymn can be seeing in the next post: click here to see)

Hope that Spring will soon be here!

After back to back snow storms, from both of which left significant accumulations on the ground (12-16 inches total), it's been pointed out to me that this picture is proof of the hope that spring will eventually get here! I took this yesterday as I was going to lunch at Kennedy Union, on the University of Dayton campus. Let's pray that this is true! Click on the picture to get a better look!

Feeding Frenzy

I was out walking our dogs this morning... it was a bit foggy with the sun trying to peak through. The air was filled with birdsong, and I could see them diving down from the sky to our bird feeders. They were in a frenzy.. eating like crazy.

Looking out our kitchen window, I could see some sort of wren foraging on the ground looking for food. All of this makes me think that we are going to get a significant snowfall this weekend. Time will tell as to what Mother Nature has in store for us! I do know that I'm going to need to get more bird-cakes and suet. I'm reminded of one of my favorite poems:

All Things Bright and Beautiful
by Cecil Frances Alexander

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens,
Each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.

The purple-headed mountain,
The river running by,
The sunset, and the morning,
That brightens up the sky;

The cold wind in the winter,
The pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden,
He made them every one.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.

And in closing, I can't help but think of the lyrics from a song from one of my favorite movies, "Mary Poppins", called "Feed The Birds"! Click here to see a Video Clip! As far as the impending weather, stay tuned!