A wren perched on a branch in a nearby oak sapling as I sat by the fire pit one morning reading. I did not know he was there until he started singing as only wrens can—clear and lovely and loud, especially for such a small bird. I knew I would never see him, but I “sang” back anyway. You don’t have to be able to whistle to sing to a bird, evidently. I just copied his pitch and timbre the best I could and sort of “trilled.” Immediately he answered back.
We sang back and forth to each other for at least five minutes, then I had to get up to poke the fire, and he flew. Not ten minutes later he was back in the same tree, singing. I answered, and here we went once again, singing back and forth for several minutes.
I have done that with other birds as well. Just imitate their songs, and they will sing right back. Even if you deviate a little, perhaps eight short phrases instead of nine or ending on a high note instead of a low, they will recognize it and return your call.
I am more than happy to sing to a bird. It still puzzles me why it is so hard for me to talk with my fellow human beings, especially about spiritual things—at least I know what they are saying to me. Particularly when they start the conversation, why shouldn’t it be easy to simply answer?
Birds are not judgmental, you say. Trust me, birds are extremely judgmental. If you don’t say what they want to hear, or if you say it too loudly or from too close a position, they will simply up and fly away.
And really, isn’t it easy to find something that most humans will talk about?
If you are standing in line and the service is slow, what do you usually talk about with the person behind you? “They really are busy today.”
If you are waiting for a bus and it’s about to rain, what do you usually say? “Hope that bus gets here before the rain does.”
I was checking out at a grocery store the morning of our last anniversary, having laid crabmeat, baby greens, rib eye steaks, shallots, lemons, yellow fingerling potatoes, cremini mushrooms, Granny Smith apples, pecans, and vanilla Haagen-Dazs on the counter. A man I had never seen in my life walked up behind me in line, took one look at the bounty lying there and said, “Man, I want to go home with you tonight!” Before I finished checking out I found out that his wife had died two years before and that the next week would have been their fortieth anniversary.
And we can’t talk to people.
We won’t talk to people, even when they start the conversation. Try singing back in his tune instead of ramming another one down his throat. Before long you can begin to deviate a little, and gradually get your points in. Isn’t that what Jesus often did?
“Can I have a drink of water?” He asked a woman at a well. Soon they were talking about spiritual water, and soon more people were coming to hear Him.
Don’t ignore the wrens in your life. Sing back and make a new friend, and perhaps a new brother.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Jehovah; and your saints shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk of your power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glory of the majesty of his kingdom, Psalm 145:10-12.
Dene Ward
We sang back and forth to each other for at least five minutes, then I had to get up to poke the fire, and he flew. Not ten minutes later he was back in the same tree, singing. I answered, and here we went once again, singing back and forth for several minutes.
I have done that with other birds as well. Just imitate their songs, and they will sing right back. Even if you deviate a little, perhaps eight short phrases instead of nine or ending on a high note instead of a low, they will recognize it and return your call.
I am more than happy to sing to a bird. It still puzzles me why it is so hard for me to talk with my fellow human beings, especially about spiritual things—at least I know what they are saying to me. Particularly when they start the conversation, why shouldn’t it be easy to simply answer?
Birds are not judgmental, you say. Trust me, birds are extremely judgmental. If you don’t say what they want to hear, or if you say it too loudly or from too close a position, they will simply up and fly away.
And really, isn’t it easy to find something that most humans will talk about?
If you are standing in line and the service is slow, what do you usually talk about with the person behind you? “They really are busy today.”
If you are waiting for a bus and it’s about to rain, what do you usually say? “Hope that bus gets here before the rain does.”
I was checking out at a grocery store the morning of our last anniversary, having laid crabmeat, baby greens, rib eye steaks, shallots, lemons, yellow fingerling potatoes, cremini mushrooms, Granny Smith apples, pecans, and vanilla Haagen-Dazs on the counter. A man I had never seen in my life walked up behind me in line, took one look at the bounty lying there and said, “Man, I want to go home with you tonight!” Before I finished checking out I found out that his wife had died two years before and that the next week would have been their fortieth anniversary.
And we can’t talk to people.
We won’t talk to people, even when they start the conversation. Try singing back in his tune instead of ramming another one down his throat. Before long you can begin to deviate a little, and gradually get your points in. Isn’t that what Jesus often did?
“Can I have a drink of water?” He asked a woman at a well. Soon they were talking about spiritual water, and soon more people were coming to hear Him.
Don’t ignore the wrens in your life. Sing back and make a new friend, and perhaps a new brother.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Jehovah; and your saints shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk of your power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glory of the majesty of his kingdom, Psalm 145:10-12.
Dene Ward
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