PRINCIPLE: “At the rising and the setting, remember the birds.”
It was a wonderful condo. Positioned on a golf course and a small river outlet, it was quiet and peaceful – except at sunrise and sunset. That’s when the birds flew in and squealed in one mass chorus. Everyday, without fail. Morning and evening; sunrise and sunset. At first I thought it was a nuisance, an unfortunate disturbing of the peace. But then I began to ponder their congregational gathering.
I have no idea what these birds were saying to one another – or if they were speaking, singing, or hollering. But at the beginning and end of each day they came together as one community and shared a common voice. Not a bad idea for communities and families! At the beginning and end of each day, get together, touch base, and share a common voice. Just think what it would do for our families and communities. “At the rising and the setting, remember the birds.”
I also wonder if perhaps these birds were singing in praise of their Creator – everyday, without fail. Morning and evening; sunrise and sunset. I began to realize that these squealing birds were pointing me to the Psalmist who wrote (113:2-3 CEV). “Let the name of the Lord be praised now and forever. From dawn until sunset the name of the Lord deserves to be praised.” Nighttime is for rest – but the daytime is for praising the name of the Lord. Beginning and ending the day with a common voice of praise frames the living of our days. “At the rising and the setting, remember the birds.”
Historically monks and monastic communities understood the importance of this common voice; they gathered at the beginning and end of each day to share in praise and worship (and usually during the day at appointed times was well.) The early church in America had an inkling of this importance. The tradition of the Sunday evening worship service was based partially on this concept. Families gathered from miles around to worship on Sunday morning, then they shared a meal, and before they took off for the long trip home they would worship again. It was, in a sense, the beginning and end of their Sabbath day. It provided a pattern for all other days. “From dawn until sunset the name of the Lord deserves to be praised.” I wonder what we have lost with the elimination of our Sunday evening worship? Perhaps not just another service of worship, but a pattern for living. “At the rising and the setting, remember the birds.”
While I believe more gathering together in our congregations would be of inestimable value, I also recognize that where and when this does not or cannot happen, we, as individuals, can still follow the pattern and habit of the birds – everyday, without fail. Morning and evening; sunrise and sunset. Consider the Psalmist: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.“ (5:3) “I think about you before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night.”(16:3 CEV) Everyday, without fail. Morning and evening; sunrise and sunset.“At the rising and the setting, remember the birds.”
If indeed,beginning and ending the day with a common voice of praise frames the living of our days, what are you doing? Or more importantly, what will you do? Whether it be in community or congregation or family, or as an individual, how will you frame your day? When you see your next sunrise, what will you do? When you see you next sunset, what will you do? “At the rising and the setting, remember the birds.”