(The following blog was written as a devotional that was read before choir practice at St. Paul Lutheran Church on Thursday, September 20, 2012.)

I am always looking at nature:  leaves, trees, clouds, flowers, and animals.  And so many times, I find an inspirational story emerge from what I see.  I particularly notice birds when they congregate on overhead wires.  Do you think they have a favorite spot to congregate?  Is there a pecking order of who gets to perch by whom?  And why do a few birds sit a little off to the side?  Are they sick?  Or maybe antisocial?

My son-in-law Andy is an expert in wildlife science.  He is one of those guys that can tell a bird from the sound it makes.  It amazes me that from the various chirps, tweets, trills, and whistles he hears that he can name that bird!

Did you know that in the (NIV) bible, birds are mentioned in over 125 verses? 

Matthew 6:26 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. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Of course people are more valuable to God!  But I think we’re a lot like those birds!  Like the flocks that congregate on the wires, well, here before me sits a congregation of choir members.  And some of you sit in a favorite spot, picking who you like to “perch” next to.  Sometimes, like the bird off to the side, I see some of you sitting a little back from the rest.

And like those birds, we all have our own voice with our own song.

Did you know that in the (NIV) bible the word ‘sing’ is mentioned 158 times?  And almost 70 of those instances are in the Psalms:

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever, Come let us sing for joy to the Lord,  sing to the Lord a new song,  how good it is to sing praises to our God, sing to Him a song of praise.

I know we all have different songs – some of us warble, some trill, some sing high, and some sing low.  But God’s word tells us to sing – and how great it is that we can “flock” together on Thursday nights to bring our voices together to make beautiful music for His glory!  And (I just had to say this!) thinking of us all being birds of a feather here, together, I can also look out at everyone and say “these are my peeps!”

How wonderful it is for each one of you to be here sharing your time and your voice to be part of this choir!

Dear God,  Thank you for making us all part of one flock, the choir, but giving us different voices to harmonize in song.  May we use our voices as the Psalmist instructs and sing joyfully to the Lord.  Bless our time together and as we ‘fly away’ home, keep us safe and forever walking in your way, Amen.

just Laurel