Good news for the countryside: Birds teach us to listen
Every fortnight people from a farming background, or who have a heart for the countryside in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, offer a personal reflection on faith and rural life. They hope that you will be encouraged by it.
One of the joys of living in the countryside is waking up to the sound of the birds.
Currently the chatter of House Sparrows (also known as Barn Sparrows) lined up on the electricity wires fills the air. The Blackbirds, Jackdaws and Rock Pigeons, are also doing their bit to add to the orchestral content of the countryside.
This summer I, like many others in recent years, have discovered the Merlin app, a simple tool on my mobile that listens to birds and identifies them by their song. It’s remarkable to watch my phone’s screen light up with their names: Meadow Pipit, Eurasian Linnet, Common Chaffinch, just to name a few. I’ve heard these, and other birds all my life and suddenly, through the wonders of technology, they have become recognisable, named and appreciated.
The Bible tells us that creation itself declares the glory of God. Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Jesus pointed to the birds as everyday reminders of God’s care. For example, “‘Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them’” (Matthew 6:26).
But here’s the challenge: although creation speaks, we don’t always listen. We enjoy rural life, but hear birdsong without paying attention. In the same way, we often miss the deeper gospel message. God’s truth can be sounding all around us in creation, and as people teach from the Bible, we can remain unaware of the message.
Just as the Merlin app helps us to recognise the birds we’ve been hearing for years; the good news of Jesus helps us recognise the voice of God that has been calling to us all our lives. The Bible says in Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
Jesus came into the world not simply to teach, or inspire, or to do good. He came to save and rescue lost sinners, like you and me. On the cross he took our sin and our guilt, to offer us forgiveness and new life. His resurrection is God’s great declaration that hope is real, death is defeated, and salvation is available to all who trust in him.
Sometimes people say, “I’ve lived in the countryside all my days – I’ve always believed in God.” That is good, but believing in God is not the same as hearing his call to repentance and faith. Birds can sing all day, but unless we stop and listen, we never truly hear them. In the same way, God’s grace can surround us daily, yet we can miss the personal call to saving faith in Christ.
Perhaps as this summer draws towards its end, as you walk a lane, or stand at a gate, you’ll hear a bird song you’ve never noticed before. Maybe Merlin will surprise you with a bird you didn’t expect. Let that moment also remind you of something deeper: God is calling to you with a life changing message of saving faith, as found in trusting Jesus Christ alone.
As you explore and learn more about Jesus Christ and his way of life, it is then that you will truly know the God who cares for the sparrow and cares for you even more.
Birdsong fills the countryside every day. The gospel fills the world every day. The question is the same for both - are we listening?
Trevor Boyd is the minister of the congregations of Tobermore and Draperstown in the shadow of the Sperrin Mountains in County Londonderry. Married to Barbara, the father of three is a sheep breeder and previously sold animal health products across Northern Ireland.
If you would like to talk to someone about any of the issues raised in this article, please email Rev Kenny Hanna, PCI’s Rural Chaplain at [email protected] or call him on 07938 488 372.