2020 Vision 02 - "Dawn Chorus"

2020 VISION

This morning I got up a little before 6 am, later than usual, and took my dog, Lizzy, outside for her first break. Suddenly I was caught by the sound of all the birds singing in the treetops. It was the dawn chorus. It was glorious. I didn’t want to go back inside. But I did. I made a cup of tea, and went back outside with Lizzy and sat, and just listened. It was a symphony of musicians and melodies and variations, and oh, so sweet, so calming and restful to listen to. What a way to begin the day.

I thought about the dawn chorus that goes on every day, all over the world, an hour or so before sunrise, and that has since the first day of Creation. The birds start singing while it is yet dark. They sing expectantly because they know and believe that the sun is about to come up and the day begin. While it is yet dark; they are not discouraged by the dark or defeated by the current darkness. They are not discouraged or defeated by yesterday’s failures or fights. Their focus is on the future, what’s coming, and they sing about it with certainty. What a lesson to learn from the birds.

Next Sunday we would normally all be together in church, dressed in our best, to celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the grave. But instead, all but essential workers are quarantined at home and we live-stream church. COVID 19 has made this a time of isolation, uncertainty, and darkness. However…

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away…” It was yet dark. To Mary, all was darkness and despair. Her Savior was dead. And now not only was he dead, but his body was missing. Surely things could not get any worse…Then a familiar voice said, “Mary”…

Mary rushed to tell everyone the exciting news. Jesus was alive! She could not keep quiet. And Mary herself began the dawn chorus that has been sung ever since that first resurrection morning. “He’s alive!”

So take time this week, get up early, take your tea or coffee, go sit outside and just listen to the dawn chorus. Take a lesson from the birds. Let them encourage you to sing, worship, and praise, because the sun will come up. The Son is risen. He’s alive and has conquered death and the grave! Let Him bring rest to your troubled soul. And remember:

“It is because of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions they fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Pam Russell Director of Women's Ministries Public Servants'Prayer