Are you old enough to remember Woody Woodpecker cartoons?
According to Wikipedia: “Woody’s character and design evolved over the years, from an insane bird with an unusually garish design to a more refined looking and acting character…” The jungle like call of the pileated woodpecker and jackhammer like tree drumming likely informed the ” insane,” irratic original design.
Now think for a minute of a pileated woodpecker …
Here is a pileated one winter afternoon a few years ago out our bedroom window. Sometimes the ones that come around look larger, like small chickens! Recently we had one on the front feeder out the office window. He was so eager to eat the suet that if you look carefully you can see chunks rolling down his belly! Nope, not white feathers there, just suet.
Psalm 107:28-31 (NIV2011) Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
I have been taught for many years that the Old Testament is a foreshadowing of the life and impact of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Re-reading Psalm 107 while writing this blog I remembered there is a strong correlation to:
John 6:16-21 (NIV2011) When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
And also to
Matthew 8:23-27 (NIV2011) Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
I have the icon below from Printery House in Conception, Maryland. I have provided their link if you would like to order one.
I have this framed print in my prayer area and also 3 x 4 inch cards
“Dark clouds race overhead. Huge waves overtop the gunwales. The boat pitches at a sickening angle. How easily our problems and troubles overtake us like a storm at sea when we forget to let Jesus take charge of our lives!
“The Apostle Peter is depicted in the usual iconographic manner with curly hair and beard. He stands in the boat, pleading with the Lord to awaken and save them. His cloak flares behind him in the wind, suggesting angelic wings, although we know from the Gospels that Peter was much too human to be angelic! The other Apostle huddling in his cloak and looking very frightened is identified for us in barely visible writing as St. John the Evangelist, “the disciple Jesus loved.” He is traditionally shown as a young man in iconography because tradition says he was the last Apostle to die.
“Jesus is dressed in the traditional garb of red tunic and blue cloak. His cloak, called in Greek a “himation” is dark blue signifying the mystery of His divine life. His tunic is red to signify His human blood shed for us all. Christ’s halo, the iconographic symbol for sanctity, is inscribed with a cross and the Greek letters; omicron, omega, nu; spelling “HO ON.” (The “nu” is hidden by the boat.) In English, this becomes “Who Am,” the name used for God in Exodus 3:14: “I Am Who Am.”
“We all have experienced times in our lives when we felt like Peter in this scene, pleading for help and hearing no answer. We all have experienced times when we felt like this portrait of John, overwhelmed by our worries and problems. Pray for awhile with this icon, place yourself in the scene, lay your troubles at the feet of the sleeping Jesus. Then hear His words, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Our Lord Jesus Christ is God, so powerful that even the winds and waves obey Him. Yet He loves you so much that He gave His life for you. Let Him calm your storm.”
I love the comment that Peter was “much too human to be angelic.“
Who better in this unprecedented time on earth, Who better to calm your storm, than the Lord Jesus?
Years ago I helped Sr. Mary Veronica in the gardens at the Convent of the Transfiguration. She was a master gardener (I am not). She was highly allergic to poison ivy (I am not, but still wear gloves around it). So we hit it off. I had much less arthritis then and could afford to lend help to others. She often sent me home with portions of her plants.
Here is the Solomon’s Seal prospering! We had to take out some plants back there that provided more shade, but I think it will do okay. I was curious about the name. Gardening Know How on line says:
“Solomon’s seal info indicates that scars on the plants where leaves have dropped look like the sixth seal of King Solomon, hence the name.”
When I first spotted this nest I thought the Robin must be out of her mind! So low to the ground and there are cats in our neighborhood. The cats do not wear bells or other items on a collar to warn birds of their approach!
Photo by Robert Dutina
If you look closely you can see that she wove a blue plastic tape into her nest. It is likely from our favorite bakery. How she found it I do not know! Guess we dropped it outside the garbage can?
Now this is a baby only a mother could love. UGLY!
Photo by Robert Dutina
So at this point the mother Robin is not too happy with us, always approaching her nest and scaring her off. Actually she could stay and watch, but she doesn’t! Wonder if she would be more interested if she knew so many folks would be seeing photos of her babies progress? As usual, a day after they hatched I found a portion of egg shell in the garden on the next lot.
Two hours later napping soundly.Robert, talented photographer and baby bird whisperer. He clucked, it opened it’s mouth for him!
So yes, there is fun to be had around here. When he gets a shot of the babies with feathers I will post that. I know when mom trains them to leave the nest we will hear LOTS of urgent chirping and calling.
As winter was waning I was excited to see buds on the maple trees. Wish I had captured them in a photo. Oh, well. A few weeks later there were maple buds all over the ground.
Now as I take my walks there is a new development. In elementary school we called them ‘helicopters” and they often rained down upon us on windy days.
A couple years ago one of the fast food restaurants had an ad on TV that reminded me of a bird who does not winter here, but had returned about the time of Lent. Their jingle was to advertise a fish sandwich and to me sounded like the bird’s song. When I tried to mimic the birdsong at the Cincinnati Nature Center the Naturalist looked at me very quizzically. As if she wondering what in the world I imagined! How many classical composers were inspired by nature sounds?
I have two mP3 players (don’t ask! it’s a long story). I use those players to listen to music or Scripture or radio when I take my walks without Bob. Recently I was walking and Verdi Without Words came on the player. Then I heard a bird over and throughout the song. My first thought was “Quite a bird!” My second thought was “What is that?” I am very familiar with the conk-a-ree type of song the male makes. This one had another piercing song that I could hear even with La Traviata playing. I found that other sound on the Cornell birding website, but could not link the recording here. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird/sounds If you go to that site I was listening to the second and third recording they list. (Just a few seconds each.)
Without further ado, try this typical song out for size!
And imagine hearing it along with this music!! Actually if you click on the bird and then the music, I was able to listen to them simultaneously!!
When this bird comes to the feeder outside my office window, he most often flits around on the ground. I see him from above and it looks as if he is wearing a helmet of black and white stripes!
We are encouraged to wear helmets to protect ourselves from injury, especially while riding bicycles and motorcycles. How about making certain your helmet is in place at other times? St. Paul encouraged us in Ephesians 6:17 (NIV2011) Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Also in Isaiah 59:17a (NIV2011) The LORD “put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head.”
Then we are also told that since we belong to the day and are of the Light that comes from God, “we are to be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” 1Thessalonians 5:8 (NIV 2011)
God knows we need to protect our head, and most especially our brain and thought patterns. This pandemic has had me at times, floundering and struggling to keep my head away from depression. Ah! but here comes that sparrow to cheer me on.
It is so easy if you do not suffer from depression to just tell yourself and others to focus on the positive. We are even told repeatedly in Scripture to give thanks in all circumstances. I am one who needs object lessons and constant reminders to stay on the path, stay on the right path, think the right thoughts, look here at the Word and at the Lord.
He blesses me with this bird of the air and reminds me not to fret. Here is the white-crowned sparrow in song for us. In the first stanza, I just love how we can see into his tiny mouth! That tongue is so wee, tiny and small!
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. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
In 1 Kings 17:8 The LORD told Elijah to go to Zarephath in Sidon. There he found a widow who was down to her last measure of flour and oil. The LORD told Elijah that the woman would supply him with food. And the supplies did not run out!
In our yard we have one lilac shrub. Several years ago it was getting way too tall. My son thinned it, but it was still too tall for my liking. So two years ago I cut at it to lower it to a height where I could reach to cut the flowers in spring. Bob was not certain it would ever bloom again after I took hold of the shears!
A few days ago the flowers were out and the overnight temperature dropped to 28 degrees Fahrenheit. In the early morning the leaves were limp. I worried about the survival of those blooms. I had invited friends to come cut lilacs for their cheer. I, too, had been bringing in branches to cheer our table.
The Lilac this week
Later in the day a friend came and picked bunches. I wondered how many more days we might have lilac flowers Several times I have mentioned to Bob that it seems the LORD’S hand has been upon that shrub this year. Just like the cruet of oil in 1 Kings, it continues and has not yet run out of blooms!
We cut, it blooms. We cut some more, it continues to bloom. I am waiting for the Bachelor Buttons and Columbine to open in abundance for bouquets. Until then, I trust that shrub will continue to bless us and others who may want the sweet flowers to take home for cheer.
Some days the clear sky just can’t be beat! They say air pollution is down worldwide!
The Red Bud against the fresh bright maple leaves, blue sky and wisps of cloud. What’s not to like? Later in the year those same maple leaves will turn a much darker green and look beaten and weary by September. For now, a fresh shout to spring glory.
Then on the way home there was this phenomenon. Perhaps I had seen it before, but it struck me as SO unusual.
At a glance I had to gasp, “What the heck?” And go closer for a photo. Later I realized you would not get the full impact unless I walked back to that particular tree and took a photo of the “larger view.” I got LOTS of steps that day.
Easily the oldest Red Bud tree in our neighborhood. I was amazed at the life springing out of that trunk! Pandemic or not, spring is actively bursting in Ohio!!
My ankles and knees are not pleased with so many steps each day, but they say it is good for our mental health as well as our physical health! Try to enjoy your neighborhood where ever you may be.
My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
So the bluebells gave way to more and more climbing up out of the valley we had dropped into. On a huge boulder we found Miterwort, below.
The flowers are 1/6 inch wide!
At one point walking back we were feeling lost. How long has it been since you took a walk and suddenly, as an adult, (not with dementia) had no idea where you were? You see, we had not brought Bob’s backpack with the compass. Had never been to this preserve. At one point, when I knew Bob was feeling some of the anxiety I was experiencing, I quoted to him “We’re goin’ on a bear hunt, we’re gonna catch a big one! We’re not scared…”
Path was only a narrow area of crushed leaves. But we were totally unfamiliar with it. And in many ways, it was exhilarating to have this much fun, all alone in the woods. Oh. Had we told anyone exactly WHERE we were going?
We took turns walking in the lead. Bob walks a little faster than I do. At one point he was almost out of sight. I knew all I had to do was call to him, but it brought some adrenaline to my system to not be able to see or hear him! Then we were out of the area where the wildflowers flourished. Just downed trees and leaves. Brown leaves, dirt and twigs, occasional rock.
We pushed on. We thought we saw the tree where the trail split. Five minutes later knew, it was not THAT tree. Finally, finally, spent with exertion we were at the place where the trail had split. So grateful for that walking stick. It helped me push up through the trail and helped we navigate my way down in some places.
At the end the Fitbit registered 41 flights of stairs. That is equal to climbing the Carew Tower overlooking downtown Cincinnati! We laughed wondering if either one of us would be able to walk the next day.
Turned out we were able to walk the next day. Chose not to take any long walks and a very long nap! Such fun to have the photos, the memory and an exit from the pandemic fears for a couple of hours.
On the way home we saw a Creamy Whip stand open for business. There was not a line of people, so we stopped. I put on my cloth mask and took some cash. There was a man in the truck next to us. I asked if he had placed his order yet. (I did not want to upset whatever the protocol was there.) He said yes, he was waiting for his order to be prepared. Then I realized there were several cars with people waiting. This placed served foods as well as ice cream. The people in line moved to one side. Oh! there were people on the other side of the building at picnic tables.
I placed our order for two cones. Paid, was given the cones and climbed into the car, shedding mask and getting hand sanitizer. Back to the reality of Corona virus.
Enjoyed our yummy cones and felt not one pang of guilt after that arduous climb! Drove home in peace. Looked forward to seeing how our photos came out. Maybe one day soon I will just post Bob’s photos!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 