Sometimes the weariness of the world weighs me down. Headlines groan with grief — the martyrdom of Christians, a pilot crashing a plane filled with passengers, a mother abandoning a child in the woods. Then I remind myself that right before his death, Christ didn’t dwell on the gruesome events to come. Instead, he hoped that his friends’ joy “might be complete.”
Some people, though, may wonder where to find joy in a world heavy with suffering. I’m sure Jesus wasn’t suggesting we ignore people’s pain and joke about tragedies.
We can discover a lasting, deep-down delight by following God’s commandments, serving others and savoring the small blessings of each day. I also discovered a hidden recipe for joy in Psalm 104, which celebrates God’s love for his creatures.
The psalm mentions birds making nests in the trees God planted and also salutes little “forest beasts” scampering here and there. The words inspired me to purchase a window bird feeder to get dawn-to-dusk glimpses of the Lord’s feathery kingdom.
We now see baby finches gorging on seeds, plus cardinals chasing the little guys away with threatening beaks. The lineup also features tufted titmouses, sparrows and woodpeckers, while our birdbath provides an oasis for robins, bluebirds — and even hefty crows. The latter leave me odd presents, I must admit, usually a soggy piece of bread, which gives me a chuckle.
Let’s not leave squirrels out of the joy quotient. One of these wily fellows decided to stake a claim on the feeder, so he positioned himself upon the windowsill and then managed to crawl upward upon the glass — with his claws slipping and sliding as he moved toward his heart’s desire.
Suddenly, gravity kicked in, and he lost his grip and slid back to square one, as my husband and I laughed uproariously. Undaunted, the persistent beast clawed his way up again, reached out a paw and was just was about to partake of the feast when he lost his balance and landed dramatically in the yard.
When I wake up in the morning, birdsong is the first sound to greet me, and becomes the backdrop for my early prayer: “Thank you, God, for another day and all your blessings.” Some days, the impromptu symphony also features enthusiastic clucks from the neighbors’ chickens and the hopeful mating calls of chipmunks.
We live on a tiny plot of land in Decatur, but our abundance of trees provides a refuge for an assortment of God’s creatures ranging from butterflies and bumblebees to rabbits and red-tailed hawks. Still, no matter where you live, you can tap into nature’s delights by planting flowers, sharing your bread with birds — and perhaps installing your very own window feeder.
In a world that sometimes drags down our hearts, let’s remember the psalmist’s words, “All the trees of the forest will sing for joy.” Fortunately, the delights of God’s creation don’t depend on the headlines — and cannot be stolen by the nightly news.
About the Author
