The Morning Song of the Mockingbird

Here of late I've been caught at unawares by the singing of a Mockingbird.  This morning, for instance, as I was sitting in my office his song caught me.  When I hear it, for some reason it gives me hope.  Not so with other birds, their songs often sound harsh or unpleasant.

I sat for a while listening, trying to resonate with what it was that seemed joyful in his song.  At first, the Mockingbird's song sounds erratic; constantly changing between different trills, whistles and chirps.  This is what my morning felt like, anxious, frantic and unstable.  Usually I end here, jump up and try to start fixing whatever it is that anxiously nags at me.  Gladly, I didn't stop listening this morning, for as I kept listening his song begins sounding more like a melody, albeit a melody made up of constantly changing tunes, yet flowing peacefully all the same.  This is more like my life as a whole.

I think I connect to his song because he's singing the song of life.  Sometimes it's harsh and pointed like his chirps.  Whereas other times life seems more like his trills, full of energy and excitement.  Still at other times life is more like a whistle, going up before coming quickly back down.  Always changing, rarely staying the same.  We may go to bed Friday night full of anticipation and hope of a restful Saturday to find that upon awakening one of the kid's has strep throat, the car won't start, and the clouds of depression have begun to move in.  I can't control what tomorrow brings - hell, I can't even prepare for it well.

Hearing the Mockingbird's song reminds me that I don't have to control or manage life, for when I do I am steeped in a self-willed motivation that usually leads to dishonesty with my self and others, and ultimately ends in self-pity or blame.  Rather, his song reminds me that I can resound with assurance through it all; in the low painful places, the mundane day-to-day, and those brief moments of intense joy and pleasure.  I can sit and be still, assured that One greater than me is holding it together, and not only this, but it is a part of His great pleasure to work things for my enduring good.

Today I seek to live in Abba's will,  receiving the little gifts He gives me throughout the day.  When anxiety stirs up and threatens to unleash threatening clouds of dread, I'll pause and ask God to reset me from living in my self-seeking motivations, self-pity and dishonesty.  I'll intentionally ask him to set me in His will of peace and promise.