“There the owl nests and lays and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow; indeed, there the hawks are gathered, each one with her mate.”
—Isaiah 34:15
Dear friends,
This is a bird house in my backyard, awaiting new occupants in the spring. The owl isn’t real, it’s piercing eyes and angry scowl are meant to scare off birds and other animals who might come to eat in my vegetables. I think of him fondly as the wise guardian of our garden, or Pooh’s know-it-all friend from the Hundred Acre Wood.
I was interested to learn that the Bible features owls, too, as inhabitants of abandoned, ruined or desolate places. They most often symbolize loneliness, mourning or judgment. They’re not the happy birds of my backyard!
It occurs to me that my backyard in winter does look abandoned, ruined and desolate, bare of leaves and green and covered with snow and ice. But we have faith that new life lurks under the snow and will soon be making an appearance as the days get longer and the weather warmer.
This month we continue on our Lenten journey, learning from the birds and preparing our hearts for Holy Week and Easter. Debbie returns from her vacation to preach about “Nesting, Singing, Soaring.” We are working on making origami birds to decorate our Easter church, and sharing bird sightings! Our daily Lenten devotionals continue, as well as new opportunities for discovery and discussion including Racial Justice Movie Night and Winter Walks guided by Neela de Zoysa. On the last Sunday of the month, we’ll usher in Holy Week with an outdoor Palm Parade. Look for more information about these activities, below and in coming days.
Like my backyard, guarded so patiently by my plastic owl friend, Lent is a journey that reminds us each year of the faith that sustains us, even in the midst of a desolate season. We know that God’s love has been there all along, nurturing new life under the snow and in our hearts. Thanks be to God!
In peace,
Karen Nell