Wednesday, June 01, 2005
The Birds of the Air
I am completely in awe of the power of God's creatures in reminding us, as humans, about what is important. I am sitting here, in this dark, dreary motel room, while my husband sleeps. Inside it is hot and sticky and my fingers are sweating even upon the keys as I type. But, outside, the weather is just beginning to cool off a bit and the sun is setting. It is time for Maghrib prayer, and the birds are praying. It is at this time of the day when their song is the loudest, most intense music I have ever heard, and I am absorbed in it. And shamed that I am not as persistent with my praise of God as they are.
Seest thou not that it is Allah whose praises all beings in the Heavens and on Earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of )prayer and praise. And Allah knows well all that they do. An-Nour 41 (Qu'ran)
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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:26-7 (NIV)
God takes care of us even when we are completely unaware of his presence. He is there...always. We don't need to "feel" him to know that if there is food, there is Ar-Razzaq (the Provider); if there is life, there is Al-Muhyi (the Giver of Life); if there is Peace there is As-Salam (the Source of Peace), and this list goes on. It is no wonder the birds praise Him so fervently. They know for what they are singing, and to whom.
As I listen to the glorious melody, I am soothed, inspired, humbled. I can't help but wonder how God must smile upon these tiny creatures lovingly as they "tweet" their little hearts out singing "SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah" (Praise God), chanting together from a common place in the tree outside our window. They are doing as God has commanded them to do. Maybe I should, too.
Seest thou not that it is Allah whose praises all beings in the Heavens and on Earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of )prayer and praise. And Allah knows well all that they do. An-Nour 41 (Qu'ran)
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? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:26-7 (NIV)
God takes care of us even when we are completely unaware of his presence. He is there...always. We don't need to "feel" him to know that if there is food, there is Ar-Razzaq (the Provider); if there is life, there is Al-Muhyi (the Giver of Life); if there is Peace there is As-Salam (the Source of Peace), and this list goes on. It is no wonder the birds praise Him so fervently. They know for what they are singing, and to whom.
As I listen to the glorious melody, I am soothed, inspired, humbled. I can't help but wonder how God must smile upon these tiny creatures lovingly as they "tweet" their little hearts out singing "SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah, SubhanAllah" (Praise God), chanting together from a common place in the tree outside our window. They are doing as God has commanded them to do. Maybe I should, too.
