Something happens on the last week of February every year right here in northern Indiana. I’ve kept track of it for over thirty years and it’s never missed. What is the event? It’s the return of the Red-Winged Blackbird!….. Okay, so maybe you’re not a huge fan of spring, or love to explore the woods and nature like I do and you might be thinking big deal!
Every year, this particular species of bird returns to the nesting ground to begin it’s’year’. When I heard that first lone male ‘calling out’, I just couldn’t help but smile and say “welcome back”! The males will get here first and establish their own nesting territory before the females arrive a few weeks later.
The Red-Winged Blackbirds are extremely territorial! You can already hear them ‘calling out’ to one another-and the call repeats every few hundred yards from bird-to-bird, on down the banks of the stream or marsh, until you can’t hear them anymore….. I used to think they were talking to each other like: hi, how ya doin? But, it’s actually more like: THIS IS MY TURF AND YOU BETTER KEEP OUT! If you get too close to one of their active nests–you just might have an up close and personal encounter with one of these birds!
But aside from being a true harbinger of spring, I’m always amazed at how even this one, small part of nature, is a simple and consistent reminder to me of God.
“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Matthew 6:26 NLT
It seems like the more I enjoy and learn about creation, I realize all of nature points to The God who created everything. The structure, the order and repeatability of everything–from the change in seasons, to the return of the birds in the spring!
If we are looking, we can see constant reminders everywhere that God is in control!
Till Next Time…..
