something to sing about

As i walked in the park early this morning, i noticed one small bird singing his lungs out, much more poetically and louder than any other bird. As i looked at him, i wondered what motivates him to sing this way, who has put this song in his heart? I suspect it was much more than the sun rising on a new day, or the worm he had for breakfast, or even being free to fly around and enjoy God's glorious creation. I suspect this bird was in love.

I remember the feeling of being truly in love and being truly loved in return. It does cause one to sing, to dance, to become joyful and estatic, much similar to the bird i noticed this morning. For a moment i wondered where my song has gone, but i knew the answer before the question even entered my mind...

Then i was reminded of two birds i saw in the park many years ago. Neither of them were singing, and both seem to have lost all reason for singing. One sat all alone perched on a rock close to the edge of a pond. I'm not sure what it had gotten itself into, but it was covered in grease ir oil and couldn't fly. I wanted to help it, but the bird was just out of my reach. There was little hope for this bird, as I didn't know what to do. As tear came to my eye, as i recognised how many of us (some closer than we realise) are in similar situations, with our lives suddenly covered in muck, needing help but loosing hope in finding it.

Some time later on the same pond, i noticed a single swan, unusual since swans live in pairs. This swan's beak was grey rather than the usual peachy-orange colour. He seemed to be so sad. Had he lost his partner? whas there any hope of reuniting or finding a new love. And what would he need to bring the colour back to his beak?

No amount of food, no material item could bring a song like this into either bird's heart. The first bird needed to be rescued, cleaned and reunited with his family, with those he loves. The swan also needed to be rescued, but rescued by love. He needed someone to sing about, to share his life with again.

We all need things. We all need to be helped sometimes. But more than anything else, we need to find our song, something to sing about, something to feel true joy about. Wealth, popularity, all kinds of material things can never give us this lasting song, so why do we chase these things? This type of song can only be sung when we experience true love.