I was recently confronted with the idea that if we could understand bird speech, we might hear a tirade against humanity and our dragging of the world into sin. This was said tongue in cheek, with a bit of a chuckle, so I knew it was meant to be humorous, but the concept stayed with me.
So those words were still bouncing around my brain as I set out on a walk a few days later. The cool, spring air smelled fresh. Rain from the night before had stirred up the scent of earth and a slight breeze was carrying it high into the air. Wild onions bunched along the path, dark green against the still brown grass.
The stillness of the morning made a ready stage for a wide variety of bird song. I listened as I walked. As I eavesdropped, I was able to unravel each distinct song from the intricate weaving of trills and chirps. Any thoughts of their singing being a scolding began to fade away as their songs became clear.
I heard songs of hope instead, picked up in turn by each new feathered choir member and carried along in each avian dialect.
The bird who lost her nest in a storm still twittered her morning cheer as she hopped along, searching for a wormy breakfast or fallen seeds.
The bird whose mate was stolen by a predator still chirruped from the branch his morning song of a bright new day.
The devastation and disappointment of the previous day was laid aside with the rise of the morning sun.
A new song for the new day.
Hope restored with the dawn.
Perhaps the birds do have melancholy notes in their tunes, a mournful homage to a world before its breaking and fall. All of creation must feel the weight of brokenness and despair as we do, too. But maybe those notes are only there to sweeten the hopeful melody of mercies new each morning.
As I overheard our winged friends in their early morning chatter and song, I was reminded vividly of our faithful God. One who watches over even the smallest and most insignificant of the birds. A God who keeps his promises and sends grace upon grace for each new day.
I heard HOPE in the bird’s songs.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Longing & Belonging 
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