Consider the Birds
Sep 12
/
Lisa Keosababian
As I walked on the trail, I spotted a Green Heron on the other side of the river. The small bird was still and it blended into its surroundings. My first reaction was wonder and gratitude at seeing such a beautiful and hidden bird. I could have easily missed it.
The longer I watched the motionless heron, the more I became still. My body relaxed and my thoughts quieted as a sense of calm washed over me. Even when I resumed my walk, I felt the invitation to silence and a slower way of being. This invitation lingered for the rest of my walk, and in the days to come. Even now, a memory of that heron invites me to slow down.
Invitations from the birds
About twelve years ago, I decided to learn about birds. I thought that learning to be attentive to birds would help me become more attentive to God. I now know this was a Spirit-inspired idea.
My first step was learning to see birds, and I was surprised to find so many more birds in my yard and neighborhood than I had previously realized. Then I learned to recognize their characteristics and identify them. It was a slow process, but I am so grateful for all I have learned about and from birds.
Birds invite me to slow down. It is hard to see birds when rushing through life. They invite me to stop and look. This can happen when I’m outside, but also when I am inside and pause by a window.
Birds invite me to silence and prayer. My thoughts are often noisy. Maybe it is worrying about a problem, or rehearsing a frustration. It's as if I’m curved inward, and I can only see myself. And suddenly, I hear or see a bird, and I feel the invitation to shift focus and to look up and out. And once the bird breaks through my attention, it is an easier step to become aware of God.
Birds invite me to wonder. I am amazed at God’s lavish and amazing creativity. How wonderful to live in this beautiful world with tiny and bright Anna’s Hummingbirds darting from flower to flower, Great Blue Herons standing attentive by the water, Bald Eagles soaring over lakes, Swainson’s Thrushes singing their beautiful song, and Wood Ducks floating in ponds.
Birds invite me to joy. When watching birds, I sometimes experience a sense of God’s delight in the birds, in me, and in me watching the birds. I believe it gives God joy when I experience wonder and delight at birds. How wonderful to share joy with God! This invitation to joy isn’t just in uncommon or extraordinary birds, but in the common and ordinary.
Birds invite me to remember that I am beloved. My birding experiences often leave me aware of God’s love. The sense of my belovedness is especially evident with one particular bird species that has appeared many times when I needed a reminder that God loves me, sees me, and cares for me and the things on my heart.
Because birds have become so meaningful, I am intentional about my weekly birding-with-God walk. I take my binoculars, and I look, listen, and pray. This walk is one of my favorite times of the week. I almost always return home a bit more grounded than when I left. I thank God for birds.
Ponder
The amazing thing about God’s personal love for us is that God speaks to us each in different ways. Birds are meaningful to me, but it may be something different for you.
What speaks to you of God’s love and presence in your life?
Where have you recently experienced a moment of awe and wonder?
How can you make space for a little more wonder in your life?
The longer I watched the motionless heron, the more I became still. My body relaxed and my thoughts quieted as a sense of calm washed over me. Even when I resumed my walk, I felt the invitation to silence and a slower way of being. This invitation lingered for the rest of my walk, and in the days to come. Even now, a memory of that heron invites me to slow down.
Invitations from the birds
About twelve years ago, I decided to learn about birds. I thought that learning to be attentive to birds would help me become more attentive to God. I now know this was a Spirit-inspired idea.
My first step was learning to see birds, and I was surprised to find so many more birds in my yard and neighborhood than I had previously realized. Then I learned to recognize their characteristics and identify them. It was a slow process, but I am so grateful for all I have learned about and from birds.
Birds invite me to slow down. It is hard to see birds when rushing through life. They invite me to stop and look. This can happen when I’m outside, but also when I am inside and pause by a window.
Birds invite me to silence and prayer. My thoughts are often noisy. Maybe it is worrying about a problem, or rehearsing a frustration. It's as if I’m curved inward, and I can only see myself. And suddenly, I hear or see a bird, and I feel the invitation to shift focus and to look up and out. And once the bird breaks through my attention, it is an easier step to become aware of God.
Birds invite me to wonder. I am amazed at God’s lavish and amazing creativity. How wonderful to live in this beautiful world with tiny and bright Anna’s Hummingbirds darting from flower to flower, Great Blue Herons standing attentive by the water, Bald Eagles soaring over lakes, Swainson’s Thrushes singing their beautiful song, and Wood Ducks floating in ponds.
Birds invite me to joy. When watching birds, I sometimes experience a sense of God’s delight in the birds, in me, and in me watching the birds. I believe it gives God joy when I experience wonder and delight at birds. How wonderful to share joy with God! This invitation to joy isn’t just in uncommon or extraordinary birds, but in the common and ordinary.
Birds invite me to remember that I am beloved. My birding experiences often leave me aware of God’s love. The sense of my belovedness is especially evident with one particular bird species that has appeared many times when I needed a reminder that God loves me, sees me, and cares for me and the things on my heart.
Because birds have become so meaningful, I am intentional about my weekly birding-with-God walk. I take my binoculars, and I look, listen, and pray. This walk is one of my favorite times of the week. I almost always return home a bit more grounded than when I left. I thank God for birds.
Ponder
The amazing thing about God’s personal love for us is that God speaks to us each in different ways. Birds are meaningful to me, but it may be something different for you.
What speaks to you of God’s love and presence in your life?
Where have you recently experienced a moment of awe and wonder?
How can you make space for a little more wonder in your life?
Lisa Keosababian
Lisa is drawn to spiritual direction as a spacious place for listening and paying attention to life and to God. She is honored to listen to people’s stories and to see God’s love for each person. Lisa holds an MA in Spiritual Formation and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Portland Seminary, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington. Her first career as a program evaluator and research analyst involved listening to the professional stories of many state government and nonprofit employees. Lisa lives with her husband in Woodinville WA. She enjoys reading, walking, and birding.
You can connect with Lisa at www.spiritualdirectionwithlisa.com.
Lisa is drawn to spiritual direction as a spacious place for listening and paying attention to life and to God. She is honored to listen to people’s stories and to see God’s love for each person. Lisa holds an MA in Spiritual Formation and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Portland Seminary, and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington. Her first career as a program evaluator and research analyst involved listening to the professional stories of many state government and nonprofit employees. Lisa lives with her husband in Woodinville WA. She enjoys reading, walking, and birding.
You can connect with Lisa at www.spiritualdirectionwithlisa.com.
