The Effects of the Wind
A Big Snow fell on our little coming-up-the-mountain town last week. For once, the storm came during the day. Our community is tired of the storms coming during the night. The snow started falling about 9 a.m. An hour later, our roads were covered. By the afternoon, you couldn’t tell where a road was in our little neighborhood.
The wind blows stronger on our edge of the mountain. I can’t even keep count of the number of umbrella’s felled by the winds coming from the West. I guess a snow storm brings a powerful wind with it. My sons came in to lunch with a rush to their step as they blew through the door. It was a pepperoni roll and Mama’s (Muddy’s) Hot Chocolate Day.
The bird’s felt the wind, too. Some got caught in a hard draft and had to work harder to get their daily quota of seeds.
Imagine eating 1/2 to 1/4 your body weight one seed at a time in a day? (How Much Do Bird’s Eat in a Day)
The storm didn’t deter their work. The Tufted Titmouse, the House Finch and the Black Capped Chickadee, along with other feathered friends, met at the source for their nourishment. Not once did my backyard birds give up their EveryDay Ordinary work in the snow storm! The winds buffeted, the temperature dropped, some birds behaved unkindly, others gave grace and made room in the uncomfortable challenges.
How they faced their challenge made me think of two things. One was how God blesses those who don’t give up in the seemingly EveryDay Ordinary of the daily – whether the sun shines or the storm blows all kinds of mess. Maybe the bird’s song is all the sweeter because they do not give up. . . one seed at a time, 1/2 to 1/4 of their weight, every day in their God-designed Journey. Like each bird’s Song, maybe our story is all the more beautiful when we do not give up.
“So you must be brave.
Don’t give up!
God will honor you for obeying him.”
~ 2 Chronicled 15:7
The cardinals came, along with the Chipping Sparrow and Nut Hatch. The Blue Jay was too cautious to meet at all the feeding places. It picked up the seeds that had fallen to the ground near Holly and Cleveland Pear Trees, distant aloof, keeping to the shadows. Maybe he would be a happier bird if he met more often with his fellow birds at the source of his nourishment.
Besides the importance of Not Giving Up, how the birds faced their challenges made me think of the Importance of Meeting Together. The Meeting Together where they fed made me think of you, of this community where we write and meet, where we come despite the challenges in our individual EveryDay Ordinaries, where we make room for each other, and give each other grace – and where we share the seeds of God’s word to encourage each other in our God-Designed Journeys. My story is better because of the Faith Seeds you share here – God’s seeds shared that give me courage to not give up, not let go. I need 1/4 to 1/2 my body weight in God’s seed daily – from the scripture, from worship, from meeting in our churches to meeting in places those listed in the link-ups below.
No, I didn’t see the wind last week during the storm. But I saw the effects of the wind on our little mountain and how it affected the birds. I didn’t see God, either – but I saw the effects of Him in the storm and in the birds, in my community and outside my community. . . and in my story. In it all, there seemed to be a chorus repeating itself quietly, “Don’t Give Up.” Don’t Give Up on the tasks of the daily. Don’t Give Up on Meeting Together. Don’t Give up on Filling Up with God’s Soul Seeds. The effects of it all can be seen in your story.
Are you letting God be the author of your Story? God is the author of Stories that Don’t Give Up.
“Can you see God?
You haven’t seen him?
I’ve never seen the wind.
I see the effects of the wind,
but I’ve never seen the wind.
There’s a mystery to it.”
~ Billy Graham
Maryleigh, this is a lovely and encouraging post. We can learn so much from watching nature. The Billy Graham quote is a gem, one I am writing down to remember. May we trust that our God is at work even when we cannot see what He is doing. Blessings!
Trusting along with you that God is doing all things, working all things even when we cannot see! Shalom, Joanne! ~ Maryleigh
God has this all under His beautiful Hands just as He has us. He can see the finished side of the bird dance as well as our lives, all woven together. I just love how you weave words, your photographs of those exact beautiful birds, and words atop those photographs that tell of God. So fine, Maryleigh. I have missed coming here these past few weeks.
I have missed being here the past few weeks – I had to slow down, find the stillness – and breath. I had no words. I never managed to get my kitchen straight. I finally pulled my big camera out with the snow. I tried to be intentional with those who came through my kitchen door. When it came to writing, I just felt God say, “Not right now” – and I had to let go and trust. Still feeling tired and worn from the Holidays and Birthdays – but I’m finding that stillness with God I so very much need!
I loved this little object lesson, and it’s one I’ll remember as I watch the birds at my feeder each day. Thanks for sharing at Scripture and a Snapshot!
The birds seem to tell a new story every day! Enjoy your birds! Thanks so much for coming by, Kym! Shalom! ~ Maryleigh
I am also a beneficiary of the grace that comes when we gather. And I have missed reading your words here, but I am also glad we were both immersed in the world of our families! Happy 2022 to you!
I have missed being here – but I have so enjoyed my family! I cannot express the warmth and love they have left in my heart this season! Happy 2022 to you!
LOVE this post and the insight you shared here. It brightened my day with sweet reminders of the Lord’s design and presence with all his creation.
How encouraging! Don’t give up on the everyday ordinary. I needed this today. Thanks!
the birds here made made me smile this morning, Maryleigh … we’ve had 5 deer wandering around in the woods today … it’s rare to see even one ’round these parts. God’s creation is splendid and provides us with so many lessons for life and spiritual growth. i’m so grateful.
So lovely Maryleigh-I love watching the birds, I think they have so much to teach us! They never seem to worry so they? Even in a big snow they seem secure. That’s lesson enough for me to learn!
I read somewhere that if we were to eat the equivalent of a hummingbird’s metabolism, we’d need to drink a can of Coke every hour. Birds are so fascinating. I’m grateful that God cares for us even more than for the birds (and he cares for the birds a lot).