By Jim Penczykowski
Songbirds have been on my mind lately. I don’t know what to think about them. They are an incredible gift to the senses. I find myself savoring the day when I hear them. Can you imagine what life would be like without them? Do you think the creator wanted to wake us up to the beauty around us by giving us songbirds? Life does not always seem like such a gift. We all get into ruts from time to time, ruts in our behavior (we call them habits) and ruts in our thinking (we call them attitudes). Then a sunny spring day arrives, the fresh green color jumps out at us as though it is our first time seeing it, the warm air caresses our skin, and the songbirds remind us that there is more to life than the little universe of our habits and attitudes. It is then that we are invited to look about us at our family members, our neighbors, the people we see in passing at church or at the grocery store and realize that they are all a gift to us as well, just as surely as that beautiful spring day is a gift. Oh sure, I could try to tinker with all these gifts and improve on them somewhat. But I could, instead, just accept them all and savor them as gifts.
We hope you enjoyed this Benedictine Reflection. Learn more about the sisters’ mission and the Year of Beauty by clicking the button below.
Comments 6
Thank you for this perfect, joyous, tribute. I am pro-songbird too. Our Creator packed a lot for us to appreciate in those feathery little bodies.
To thee the song bird sings.
To thee spring’s warmth brings
awoken consciousness,
revived wantonness
of Love Loving Love.
Bird song has been such an unexpected joy for me this Spring! Present even on a dreary, rainy day like today (at least, in St. Louis!). Such a gift.
This brought tears to my eyes. Thank you. 🕊️❣️
Thank you Jim. How could anyone miss those beautiful sounds? Your message is so true. It seems that gratitude is a grace given so that we can appreciate what we have.
Beautifully stated Jim. Encouraging us all to use the bird songs of spring to remind us to be present in this beautiful world!