Two Hawks on My Morning Walk

On my daily morning walk, I recently spotted two hawks in a tree. I stopped for a closer look, wondering what they were watching so intently. In that moment, three Canadian geese soared downward and landed on the nearby pond. I just stood there and watched as the three geese and two hawks made my morning walk more interesting. The hawks were looking for mice or other rodents on the ground. The geese were looking for worms and enjoying the grass around the pond.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-34 speak about God’s care for us. Verse 26 tells us about God’s provision for us. The meal of worms doesn’t just appear – the geese have to hunt for them, but God makes the food available. In a similar way, God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. When they needed food, God provided manna, and they were told to gather what they needed for each day. (Exodus 16)

My morning walk was therapeutic. Research has shown that people who enjoy nature experience less anxiety and higher levels of happiness. Walking isn’t enough! You have to watch the animals and listen to the birds. The key isn’t simply being in nature but noticing it.

Paul tells us that creation reveals God’s power and nature (Romans 1:20). God told Job to look at the sea, the sky and stars for evidence of His presence. (Job 38-39) Jesus instructed us to think about the “birds of the air” and “flowers of the field” to reveal God’s care and reduce anxiety (Matthew 6:25-30).

Scientists have often wondered why nature affects us so positively. One reason is that by noticing nature, we catch a glimpse of the God who created us.

Prayer – Dear God, You are the creator of heaven and nature and all that it holds. Help me to slow down and notice all that You have created. Amen.

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.”

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon  

Images: Charles Sigler, Kaiwen Sun & Ross Stone, courtesy of Unsplash