Why The Voice of the Bird?

It's an image that jumped out at me from the pages of the twelfth chapter of Ecclesiastes.

The author of that book is sharing his wisdom concerning the impermanence of this world we live in. He writes that whatever we do in our busy human lives that is not anchored in God is worth less than the dust we will all return to. In fact, the whole of Chapter 12 describes the ending of a life in old age, perhaps also the ending of Time, but certainly a moment when the things of this earth are revealed as bits of fluff in comparison to the Spirit that created them. I was reading along this rather depressing passage, with words like "tremble" and "darkened" and "shut" and "low." Very dismal indeed.

Then suddenly I read "...and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird..." and then more dark images followed.

I'm sure that by this was meant the singing of a bird in the morning, awakening even the old. But nevertheless, here it is, a musical note like a high bright promise in a sea of low hums. In the midst of the crumblings into dust and the fadings away of earthly pleasures is heard the voice of a bird. It links us to the heavens on its way to the sky, and surely, no matter who is dying, the birds still sing their songs. I can't interpret much in the way of Scripture, but the poetry in this passage lifts my heart from a field of faded, dying gray to one sunlit tone that reaches up to God.

So here I am, singing my little heart out in a blog about trusting the Lord and writing stories that glorify Him. There are more challenges and pitfalls in this wonderful path than I have time to tell right now. But I'll be back, and more regularly than before, I hope. I'll introduce you to my work in progress, my oceanographer, and a truckload of good-hearted fictional (sort of) hippies.

By the way, here is the heart of the promise of Ecclesiastes:

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."

Comments

[Alexia]

welcome back to the world of blogging :) "Christian" fiction is in dire need of good storytellers!

[Tom Atkins]

Glad to see you back at it, and I can't wait to see where God leads you!

Tom

[Eve Juurik]

Hi Precious Durga,

I LOVE the name of Your blog! Absolutely beautiful! I am so excited about Your journey as a writer! You are so incredibly talented and it is so exciting to see You finding the right road... which is not always easy... but it is the safest and the most secure place on the face of the earth - the right road with the Lord by Your side! Wow!

Love & blessings,

Eve