Palm Sunday, #aBirdFromTheLord

Tonight, at bedtime, a screech from an American Barn Owl. And, thus, Lent concludes. So grateful for God's teaching me to be still more often and allowing me to feel waves of grief in His loving presence, and among His birds of the air. In so much loss, God finds.

Thank you, Gina! :)

Day 39, #aBirdFromTheLord

Yep, I've caught the bug that's going around. From my bedroom window, while scarfing down potato chips, I watched the Lesser goldfinches, who visit the lavender bush daily. They, too, were ravenously eating their afternoon snack of seeds from the lavender buds. Grateful.

Day 38, #aBirdFromTheLord

Hot again today, and I'm languishing in the heat. Probably coming down with something. Today's birds were European starlings, quite a few, and also--a plethora of squirrels. Lizards. Mountain Ebony blossoms. Being a birder means I notice everything in nature, most days.

Day 37, #aBirdFromTheLord

Went for an afternoon walk and it was hot! Summer, apparently, is here. I heard and saw acorn woodpeckers. Their chatter mingled with the call of mourning doves. Halfway to home, I heard my friend, the mockingbird. Welcomed the opportunity to sit in the shade and listen.

Day 36, #aBirdFromTheLord

While eating an early lunch at my favorite restaurant, movement from the sky out the window caught my eye. I saw a hawk fly into the top of a palm tree. It was lovely. A pleasant surprise in my day. God does give us these joyful moments to keep us in hopeful anticipation.

Day 35, #aBirdFromTheLord

Yesterday, I was in a new part of town for a new job! Saw and heard birds I hadn't before in my neck of the woods. Hammond's Flycatcher! Brewer's Blackbird! House Sparrow, and finally, a Song Sparrow! And a Red-winged Blackbird; wish I could have seen it. Merlin heard it.

Day 34, #aBirdFromTheLord

I went out first thing this morning to have time with birds and the Lord. Merlin recorded so many! Myriad voices soloing and overlapping one another in the dawn chorus. Like an assortment of Dickens characters or the polyvocality in Shakespeare, the birds of the air.

Fifth Sunday in Lent, #aBirdFromTheLord

I spend longer than 10 minutes with the birds. I have time, and these long stretches soothe my spirit. I'm like a bird, with ruffled feathers and racing heart. Then, gradually and almost imperceptibly, I become still. The sparrows become bold to approach.

Day 32, #aBirdFromTheLord

I'm finding a rhythm now in my life to make room for birds...and God...and silence. It's getting easier to remember to meet God with the birds and also to settle my spirit as I wait. The Merlin app helps; I can just press "record" and sit and anticipate, in a soft way.

Day 31, #aBirdFromTheLord

I saw a red-whiskered bulbul for the first time (or at least, the first time of which I'm aware). I heard it first and Merlin identified it. Then, I saw it. It's a cool-looking bird! And, it's got a great reputation for being an escape artist. Inspiring!

Day 30, #aBirdFromTheLord

Towhees and crickets overlapping. Cares from the day still "chipping" as night falls. It's time for rest.

Day 29, #aBirdFromTheLord

Today's bird was a lesser goldfinch. (We are blessed to have lots of these birds visit every day!) He was balanced beautifully on a stem of my beloved and hardy cosmos, under the canopy of the flower itself. Cheered my heart instantly.

Day 28, #aBirdFromTheLord

Today, at the tail end of Lent, was maybe the first time I truly just sat and relaxed and waited. Birdsong in the background, identifiable as house finch. Wind blowing through the trees, and rustling away cobwebs inside me. New month. We're heading properly into spring.

Day 27, #aBirdFromTheLord

Before drifting off to sleep, I heard #aBirdFromTheLord. An owl screeching, probably winging into the night. Owls are some of my favorites, and when I hear them before sleep, it's like a hug from God.

No worries at all! A good question! I wonder if there is a special feeder just for spring? I'm new at feeding the birds!

Fourth Sunday in Lent, #aBirdFromTheLord

At church, we sang the song "This Good Day," by Fernando Ortega. I was struck by the bird-y lyrics:
"Noisy sparrows fill the oak trees
Swallows can't stay still
And in the glad commotion
Lord, You speak to me"

A joyful noise. With the birds. With the Lord.

Day 25, #aBirdFromTheLord

I'm a birder for the connections I feel with the commonest of winged friends. I love seeing my little brown birds, the sparrows, every day. They are reassuring to me, in their ubiquity and predictability. There is such peace in witnessing ordinary loveliness.

Hello! I had to get a new feeder because it fell from the tree and was probably swept away by the gardeners.

Day 24, #aBirdFromTheLord

I enjoy evenings waiting for the birds. I hung up a replacement feeder with nutcake this late afternoon and was treated to a white-crowned sparrow and California towhee once more. I feel like Sara Crewe these days, a lonely heart, who is lightened by winged Melchisedecs.

Day 23, #aBirdFromTheLord

At our Bird Fest taxidermy table, kids met "real" birds: woodpeckers, an owl, the feet and wing of a red-tailed hawk, and the skull of a raven. Gentle hands, reverencing beauty, even after death. I held the wing to measure their own arms. "Rest in pieces," one said. Amen.

Day 22, #aBirdFromTheLord

A parliament of crows against a gray sky at evening. Earlier at lunchtime, I found my flock at the counter of the local diner. Conversing with people, new friends and old, makes me think we're a bit like crows, congregating for a bit before we fly to our separate roosts.

Day 21, #aBirdFromTheLord

I steal away to my backyard with a book and hear birdsong. I don't have my feeder up anymore so I haven't been seeing the white-crowned sparrows or towhees. I miss them. I was rewarded with a regular afternoon visitor, a mockingbird. Its song is like water from a well.

Day 20, #aBirdFromTheLord

Sat on my rock in the backyard, with a cheery novel about flowers, and waited. A crow hung out for awhile atop the power line. Caw-caw! Caw-caw! I called to him in imitation, and then felt a bit funny. He cocked his head and listened. Wonder what he thought I said.

Third Sunday in Lent, #aBirdFromTheLord

I spent time with our Cooper's hawks. Their call sounds oddly like laughter to me, but is an alarm to protect the nest. Hawk's mate was transporting a twig. Crow caused an altercation. Met neighbor who admires the hawks, too--and prays for them.

Day 18, #aBirdFromTheLord

A plethora of birds today with the local Audubon society. My favorite was the Northern flicker. (I saw this bird for the first time today--and through a scope!) Nice red feathers and long, dark beak. A participant said, "When you hear the birds, you're at peace." Truth.

Day 17, #aBirdFromTheLord

Anxious in my spirit, I plunked down on a rock in the yard. My heart began to quieten. I had no desire to identify birds (or feelings), but just to rest and receive. Two birds carrying material--a little one with either a worm or a stick and a crow with many sticks!

Day 16, #aBirdFromTheLord

I rushed through today without stopping for #aBirdFromTheLord. On my way into the house with groceries for dinner, I saw two sparrows, but I don't know what kind they were. My heart was pulling me to sit and wait and watch, but I hurried inside, instead. Sad to miss today.

Day 15, #aBirdFromTheLord

A sparrow perched on a sign, singing.
A hummingbird in a bush.
An owl's hoot at bedtime.
Snippets of the holy.

Day 14, continued, #aBirdFromTheLord

Went back outside, saw the mourning dove in the same place, but this time, wonderfully, it did fly away in mighty fright. I think the bird's okay.