[/caption] Lately most mornings I am awake really early- probably around 5:00 or 5:30 a.m. to bottle feed our 3 month-old son Elias. I am awake before the sun rises. The house is quiet. The chimes are blowing gently in the breeze. The neighborhood is sleepy and silent. The world is sleeping but for a few dogs in the distance barking and…the birds. They showed up just within the past week or so. Don’t get me wrong I have seen birds at the bird feeder non-stop probably all winter but with warm weather coming on and Spring afoot a few birds have taken to singing in the quiet darkness of the morning near our window. This morning the windows are open in the bedroom and the birds are singing as if filled with some eternal joy. They seem ecstatic and compelled to fill the world with their song. What I love is that these birds do this before dawn. Practically it seems as if it is still night- it looks as if it could be at any time during the night. But these birds know- the dawn is right around the corner and so they begin their song. Jesus encouraged us to “look at the birds of the air” to remind us of Father GOD’s faithful care and concern for us personally.

“…For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?…” Matthew 6: 25-26

Maybe these birds are the greatest of theologians- the most radical of saints – they know the mysteries of contentment and the secret of trusting in GOD’s faithfulness. If these birds can sing for joy between the envelope of night and day – can we not learn from them to sing in that in-between place when all seems dark but the clock says day has begun. Friends, make no mistake, despite the darkness- a new day is dawning that has no end. Let us learn to sing in the dark!

“…it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts…” –Romans 13: 11-12

“…for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is…” –Ephesians 5:8-17

  ______________________ birds of spring sing their song in the dark they know day has dawned unseen and in part awake before dawn awakened by the coming dawn]]>