Song birds in the Night

Recently I have been getting up early a few times a week to walk with my daughter Kristi. Because of her work schedule we meet early enough for her to go home and get ready for work afterward. Rising in the dark when it is silent, and very still, has been an unexpectant blessing.

In the darkness I have thought about how we call it "morning" and yet it is the darkest part of the night. And how quickly and almost unnoticed the bits of lights begin to pierce into the moment. It is as if all of a sudden I can begin to see shadows and movement and eventually shapes and objects that were not there just seconds before.

I have noticed that often the "darkness" that I feel or face in life is like that. The dark is worst and most hopeless just before bits of His light and hope begin to pierce into my life. Sometimes I barely notice the change and in my struggle. I am often a unaware that my vision is being changed, that I am being allowed to see through the filter of His light. First shadows and movement of what is there and what His Spirit is doing takes shape before my "eyes". Slowly shapes and objects that were not there just seconds before become clear before me. And then the dawn comes and I see more clearly and know more fully, even if in part, that He was there all time, and still able to make good from the worst of it; molding me into His image.

This morning I sat sipping my morning tea and it was still very dark outside. No birds, no noise, not even the hum of passing cars pierced my moment. I love those few moments of quiet before the business of the day pushes its way in. As I sat there though I heard first one note, and then another, and within a few seconds I was being seranaded by a host of song birds calling to one another, marking their territory, and singing God's praise. And they took me right along with them. I closed my eyes and entered with creation into the throne room where I sat at His feet for just a minute, enjoying the song of nature, His sweet creation filled up with His presence and realizing that this sweet chorus goes on every morningw with or without an audience. Their audience is the One who gave them voice to sing. I heard them and a few seconds later I saw the light. It was as if they ushered in the morning.

I wandered in my mind to a moment of darkness when I felt so alone and lost. And one by one there were sweet voices of friends and family, speaking scripture, praying for me, and encouraging me as they ushered in His light and brought my attention to His presence, healing, and wisdom. Song birds in the darkness and slivers of light entering into that deep solitude with joy, peace, and His love.

I always thought "it is darkest just before dawn" was scripture. But to my surprise, I couldn't find it in scripture. Not in those words anyway. I did find some amazing wonderful truths though. Like Is. 58:8-10 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard... and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. "Break forth like the dawn", a startling all of a sudden piercing in the dark moment, even in the quiet solitude of peace, the light brings His presence, his healing, His glory.

Psalm 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. (KJV) These songs (both the birds and the friends) are gifts not just for that moment but also for later, that we might bring their songs to memory and be encouraged and strengthened once more. "I commune with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search" spoke to me also, for it is an active effort to think upon and bring to my mind what God has already provided in encouragement and answer.

I pray that sometime soon you too have a few minutes to enjoy the quiet of morning before life stirs, and to hear your song birds usher in His light. And I pray that you find yourself resting at the foot of His throne being wrapped in His presence. In the moments of darkness may the song birds of His Word sing sweetly to your spirit, leaving an imprint in the recesses of your heart that you may with diligence search and find them in later dark moments. Blessings, Cheri