Who would have thought that bird watching would teach me a lesson about my prayer life? But that’s just what happened this spring. I was having a particularly busy spring—spiritual direction ministry, RCIA, retreats, and a conference—all good, but all demanding my time. I was becoming very well-acquainted with the term “meeting myself coming and going.” And worse, my prayer life was virtually non-existent.
Determined to relieve the stress I was feeling, I researched leisure classes at our local university. Maybe because it was spring, or maybe because there would be no tests or homework, I signed up for Bird Watching 101—four weeks of early morning guided walks with an expert, listening for and identifying the various birds in our area park. I would have quiet time immersed in God’s creation—the perfect antidote for my stress.
I learned the key elements of bird watching: listening, exercising patience, and focusing my vision through the appropriate pair of binoculars.
An important aspect of finding birds is listening. Many times a bird can’t be seen but can be heard. There must be silence on the birder’s part to determine just where a bird is. A good birder listens first to locate a bird and then follows the sound to get a visual of the bird. I had a great deal of success finding birds when I learned to settle down and listen.
Another requirement for bird watching is exercising patience. I quickly learned that some birds do not cooperate by singing and being still. Birds have wings, and they are not afraid to use them! Some days it seemed as though all the patience in the world was of no avail against the stubbornness of the birds. Still, I learned to stay vigilant, and was usually rewarded with seeing a bird or two.
Finally, I learned that it’s important to have the right focus when using binoculars. Not enough magnification, and small birds in distant trees will not be seen. Too strong a lens, and birds will be a blur. The clearest vision comes with just the right focus of the binoculars.
And so, on the last day of class, armed with my trusty binoculars and having said a prayer that God would show me something, I set out on my urban expedition. As I listened with great patience, God gave me a revelation: my spiritual life is like bird watching! In order to find God in my life, I must listen. I must be patient. And I must focus on God with the right spiritual binoculars. If I am too busy or preoccupied, I won’t be still enough to hear God’s voice in my life. If my prayer is a hurried jumble of thoughts or readings, I am putting God on my timeframe and not exercising patience. Living scattered among too many activities does not allow me to focus on God completely. I came to realize I needed to apply my birding techniques of listening, patience, and focus to my prayer life. God was calling me to look through a pair of spiritual binoculars—a pair that would give me just the right focus on God. That realization gave me the inspiration I needed to renew my stale prayer life.
I didn’t see any birds that final day of class, but what I did see was that God was calling me to listen, to be patient, and to use my spiritual binoculars to deepen our relationship in prayer. And now, each time I see a bird, I am reminded of God’s invitation to draw closer.
Photo by Kayla Farmer on Unsplash.
This was beautiful. I have been feeding birds in my backyard for years. They used to be waiting for me to arrive from work. Or when I go out in the morning they come by. I think some of the same ones must have been coming all along because they don’t fly away when I they see me. It makes me happy to see them and know they are comfortable with me. I imagine God must feel like that about us.
I’m glad you are enjoying the birds! And yes, God delights in being with us!
Thank you it was beautiful. My husband and I love birds as well. This summer well both of us were in prayer on our cabin deck. We both hear the same bird call. John shares how it was disruptive in prayer and he couldn’t focus. I hear the same bird and got into it rhythm and as this bird sang he said, “ his will not mine” this little bird touch our hearts that day and we patiently listen for his call in prayer. Hearing God in all things
What a beautiful blessing that bird’s song is to you Teresa!
I should have known.
There was such an activity offered in the Jesuit university where my kids went. I scoffed at it and wondered to myself what, how and why? The university is in the middle of a “forest.” From the street running along side the school property, you cannot suspect that there’s a school with thousands of students there.
The priest who initiated that activity must have seen and experienced for himself that bird watching can teach us hot to listen, how to be patient and how to focus. How to be still and know that God is really there in his creation.
Is it still too late?
Glory be to God.
The Book of Psalms is wonderful. Amen.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful insight.
☦️❤️🙋🏻Sonja
Great stuff. Very nice. Thanks Melinda.
I have read several of these articles and this particular one I really enjoyed. There is much truth to what was said and I for one will put this into practice for myself. Early mornings are not my cup of tree. Like many others the snooze button is well used on the alarm clock. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and I am looking for another way to transform my life. Thank you again!
Soooo GOOD!!THANKS!!