Daily Archives: April 27, 2016

We can learn from the birds

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“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?”Job 12:7-9

We can learn from the birds!

Day by day our feathered friends on the Quiet Side of the Great Lake can live beside each other in harmony. Why can’t we the triumph of God’s Creation manage to do the same?

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When it comes to water birds on the Quiet Side of the Great Lake everyone knows their place.

The water birds along our shores include, Caspian Terns, Oyster Catchers, Egrets of all sizes, white-faced Grey Herons, Pelicans, Royal Spoonbills, Black Swans, Pied Stilts, Masked Lapwings, Seagulls, numerous species of ducks, Darters and Cormorants. Occasionally we see massive hordes of Australasian Coots and flocks of Avocets.

Each year we see the migratory Bar-Tailed Godwits who fly down to Australia and New Zealand from Alaska. Travelling approximately 11,000 kilometres flying continuously over the ocean over a seven-day period, they demonstrate amazing feats of strength. Their bodies are created with special features that allow them to do this.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/09/070913-longest-flight.html

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Bar-Tailed Godwits (foreground) and Pied Stilts (background) spend a lot of time together over the Summer .

While the list of bird species on the Great Lake is lengthy, all manage to forage for food around each other and in total harmony.

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An ibis walks past two Caspian Terns – you could almost hear him say, “G’day!”

We humans could take a leaf out of their book.

” As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” Proverbs 27:19. We can only surmise our feathered friends are tolerant and patient.

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Two more Ibis amongst a flock of Rainbow Lorikeets who are feeding on bread and honey. Note the lorikeets show no fear the Ibis are not perceived as a threat.

Brian and Simmons and Jeremy Bouma in their book “Grace and Hope” remind us:[As God’s children we should] “bless those in need; .. breathe words as ‘beautiful gifts’ that are encouraging and gracious; .. ‘be kind a nd affectionate toward one another’; and ..lovingly forgive each other out of the depths of Christ’s own love he has for us.”

Simmons, Brian; Bouma, Jeremy (2015-02-16). Grace and Hope: A 40-Day Devotional for Lent and Easter (The Passion Translation) (pp. 88-89). BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC.

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A Royal Spoonbill and Black Swan forage together
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Pelicans and Black Cormorants share a jetty.

These examples of harmonious living are endless, I have photo files full of them.  It never fails to intrigue me.

Aren’t God’s created creatures amazing?

Enjoy your day!

Blessings,

Marilyn