• About Us
    • Contact Us
      • Volunteer & Internship Opportunities
    • Our Vision
    • The HIS Board
    • Support Us
    • Community Educational Partners
    • Corporate & Foundation Support
  • STEM Resources
    • Your State/Province
      • United States
    • Resource Reviews
    • Elementary
      • Elementary Science
      • Elementary Technology
      • Elementary Engineering
      • Elementary Math
    • Secondary
      • Secondary Science
      • Secondary Technology
      • Secondary Engineering
      • Secondary Math
    • FIRST Robotics
    • 4-H STEM/Science Curriculum
    • Conference Excerpts
  • Creation Resources
  • You Should Try This at Home

Homeschool Institute of Science

Just another WordPress site

December 29, 2017

Four Calling Birds

I was joking with my children last night as we were reading a little book about the 12 days of Christmas and the symbolism used by our Protestant forefathers to communicate the biblical message of the season in code for fear of persecution. We read, rather we sang, “Four calling birds, three french hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.” As I often do, I turned the song into a theological case for the importance of birds and bird watching. I do this often as my family knows that I am hopelessly obsessed with the feathered kind that the good Lord was so kind to bestow upon us.

I do this in the appearance of jest, to get a smile from everyone and to justify my lifetime hobby and pastime, but if I really were to get down to it, I do this because I believe it to be true. Now, if this sounds very well thought out and polished, you obviously don’t know me. Words in print beautifully conceal my lack of oratorical skills, which my sweet and patient family can also attest to. But back to the birds.

I remember a time in my undergraduate years as a residence hall assistant. I lived in the college dorms for five years, spending three babysitting freshmen to help pay for out-of-state tuition. The director of the dormitory, Jeff, knew of my growing bird interest and so he printed me a list of all the bird references in the bible. Seldom have I received a gift as touching as this one. He knew my heart. It was almost too much to be quite honest.

Years later as a graduate student in Raleigh, NC I remember spending nearly every morning on the hardwood floor looking to the east as the sun rose. My morning meditation had developed into an organic sort of thankfulness. It became my custom to start my day with the words, “Thank you Lord for your wonderful Word, thank you for your beautiful birds.” I was studying several forest-dwelling songbirds at the time.

Years later I remain captivated by these creatures. The intricacy of feather patterns and feather types aligned to create a mechanical and visual masterpiece.

Let us be intentionally thankful to the Lord for his Creation this year. It is good because He is good and because He said it is very good. Let us show the world what Christ is like through our love for one another in the Church as His bride and also through our care for his remarkably complex Creation. This Creation sustains us physically, mentally, and spiritually for it is densely packed, as is His word, with revealed truth. His providence is altogether lovely.

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24). Let’s do this in 2018!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Article by William Boyd / Encouragement, Featured

This Morning in Creation

A short, periodic audio exploration of the richness of Creation, usually just a few blocks or miles from the … Continue Reading

Recent Posts

  • Blessing of the Dolphins
  • Iconography and the Woke Multiverse
  • This Morning in Creation
  • Design in the Science Classroom
  • This Morning in Creation

Instagram

Just SW of Lincoln, MT we got into a herd of elk. The calves were bedded down and peaking up over the tall grass. We backed up and the herd crossed the road to join them. First the cows and then the young sassy bulls.
Sego Lily, Calochortus nuttallii. Keystone State Park, WY. Western edge of the Black Hills. The lake is a reservoir of the Belle Fourche River, 13,500 acres in size. Shortgrass prairie ecosystem. #keystonestatepark #shortgrassprairie #segolily #Wyoming #botany #flowers
Prickly pear cactus in flower. Keyhole State Park, WY. #pricklypear #flower #cactus #wyoming #botany
Western North Carolina with my dude. Behind us in the first photo is Ponderosa cabin at Camp Daniel Boone. This was home for our high adventure team between our 50 mile hike/canoe trips in the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests and the Little Tennessee Rivers.
Herping in South Carolina! Anole and skink. #anole #skink #herping
I get the last piece! Mine, mine, mine! #Izumisushi #sushi #Spokane #seafood

PO Box 8605
Moscow, ID 83843
(208) 301-4737

The Homeschool Institute of Science, Inc. is a registered 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

Copyright © 2022 · Homeschool Institute of Science on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.