Observe the Birds
There is a place in my backyard where I sit and observe the interesting behaviors of the various birds in our neighborhood. Living in the city does not afford us a great variety of birds, but the sparrows, robins, blue jays, crows and magpies are prevalent.
We have a birdbath located in the back yard which many of them frequent, the larger ones for their drink and the smaller ones for their drink and daily bath.
It is interesting to watch as the smaller ones first light on the fence, looking in all directions, and only when none of the larger birds can be seen do they enter the bath. They splash around, flap their wings making sure all their feathers are wet, and then fly to the fence for some serious preening. The sparrows and robins obviously know that should the larger birds be in the vicinity, they must defer to them.
I am finding that my daily dose of bird watching has a positive effect on my stress level. When I am completely engaged in the birds’ activities, there is no room for disturbing thoughts or anxiety. When I see these beautiful creatures hop around in the sanctuary of my backyard and pick up bits of morsels to eat, my thoughts go back to the scriptures that tell us that God both cares for and feeds these little birds. I have found that as I muse on these incidents during the day, they afford me small escapes that calm me and I become more focused.
Finding a quiet place to observe nature is an excellent way to escape from our daily pressures, a way that will ultimately rejuvenate us and add serenity and balance to our lives.
Until next time, this is “Nurse Audrey” signing off!