God's Creatures Archives - Heading to Heaven!

Always Soaring, Always Seeing

August 26, 2023 dbirsch

Since then I’ve seen many eagles, sometimes quite close. A few times I’ve actually witnessed them plucking trout out of a lake with their strong talons. (Once ironically while I was fishing and catching nothing!) Now I’m actually privileged to see them fairly regularly over the lake behind our house.

They are majestic birds; so inspiring that they were named the national bird of the United States of America.

Yet it wasn’t that long ago that bald eagles were at risk of disappearing altogether from the contiguous states. Just 30 years ago, bald eagles were on the US government’s list of endangered species. However, with special protection, the birds have made a wonderful recovery. In 1995, they were transferred from the US endangered species list to the threatened species list. By 2007 their numbers were strong enough that they graduated even from the “threatened” designation.

The bald eagle derives its name from the white feathered heads of the mature adults. The bodies of adult birds in the lower states are typically 2 ½ to 3 ½ feet, their wingspans usually from 6 to 7 ½ feet, and their weight from 6 ½ to almost 14 pounds. Alaskan bald eagles of both genders are even larger! In an interesting twist in the animal world, the females are typically 25 percent larger than the males.

Eagles can fly as high as 15,000 feet above the earth, and as fast as 65 miles per hour. Though their preference is to soar lazily on rising thermals, if diving for food, they can reach the astonishing speed of 200 miles per hour!

Bald eagles’ diet consists primarily of fish, therefore they reside near large bodies of water with abundant food supplies and large, tall trees nearby. Eagles are the apex predators in the avian world. As birds of prey, they have strong, muscular legs and powerful talons to snatch their meals, and large, heavy, hooked beaks ideally equipped for ripping the flesh off their meals.

Normally the birds will swoop down and pluck their prey on the fly. (A necessary thing since most of their prey resides in water!) They will occasionally take larger animals down, but then will either feed on it at the location or take pieces back to its nest. However, they can fly bearing a greater weight than their own. For example, one bald eagle was documented as flying with a 15 pound mule deer fawn!

Bald eagles are also known for their huge nests, or eyries. They are usually 5-6 feet wide and 3-4 feet deep, but their homes can be as much as 8 feet wide and 13 feet deep and weigh up to a ton. It usually takes several months to build an eyrie, and the nests are often reused (or continually used) and built larger over time.

All of which I find fascinating. Yet the aspect of eagles (and hawks, for that matter) which astounds me the most is their incredible vision. Perfect vision for humans is 20/20. An eagle’s vision is 20/4 … or five times sharper than ours. Translated, that means that what we can see clearly at 20 feet can be seen by an eagle with the same clarity at 100 feet. (A hawk’s vision is actually 8 times sharper than ours!) An eagle’s eyesight allows them to spot prey from over a mile away!

Besides that, eagles are also able to see ultraviolet light, which means that even the urine of small mammals can be spotted in the ultraviolet range from extreme distances! This, of course, is a significant advantage for the birds of prey, and an extreme disadvantage for the prey itself.

There are a number of reasons for the eagle’s exceptional vision. An eagle’s eyes are packed with visual cells in the rods and cones of its retina. In fact, an eye of an eagle is quite large, weighing even more than the eagle’s brain. In addition, the positioning of the eyes on an eagle provides it with a 340-degree field of vision, (as compared to a human’s 180-degree range).

All of which, of course, points to the wisdom and workings of the Creator.

That same Creator – the Almighty Lord who gifted eagles with incredible vision – possesses a far greater vision than any of his creations. The Bible states that the Lord “views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens” (Job 28:24). Furthermore, “his eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step” (Job 34:21).

But more significantly, “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

This is incredibly important for us to recognize, and incredibly comforting when we do. Especially as we consider all the applications of this truth. Here are just a few:

No human can foresee the difficulties and challenges that tomorrow may bring, but the Lord does. And he also sees the solutions!

No one can be prepared for the many uncertainties of life. Except the Lord, that is. There are no uncertainties for him because he sees and knows all, so he is always completely prepared.

Feeling all alone? God has his eyes on you and is with you constantly.

Emotionally exhausted? The Lord knows your thoughts and your needs, and will minister to you in the most loving way.

Caught up in hardships and don’t understand why? God sees your struggles, and also understands why you need to endure them. (Which is why he allowed them in the first place.) And, as already pointed out, he also always sees the answers.

God’s people are often moved by love to serve God in various ways, as well as do little acts of kindness to others. Those never go unnoticed by the Lord, and they bring him joy. Meanwhile the wicked live for themselves. God sees that too.

No matter how devious or deceptive individuals or organizations may be in their efforts to bring hardship to God’s people or undermine God’s church, the Lord sees their plans. Nothing will happen with their schemes unless the Lord allows it for his own good purposes.

Concerned about the many sins on your record? Your Savior has your every single mistake identified and has paid for every single sin in full. He hasn’t missed a one.

Like an eagle, our God is always souring over us and always seeing everything that impacts us, and he’s constantly intervening in the most loving fashion.

The psalmist beautifully summarizes God’s all-encompassing vision, and what that means to each of us. “From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth … But the eyes of the LORD are [especially!] on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them … [Therefore] we wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (Psalm 33:13-14, 18-21).

With our “vision” being limited in so many ways, it certainly is wonderful to know that our God’s sight is unlimited!

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Consider the Birds

October 22, 2022 dbirsch

It’s been a busy week, so I’m sharing a post I wrote way back when. Folks seemed to enjoy it then; I pray they do again.

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The birds at our place have it pretty cushy. We have multiple bird houses hanging from the eaves on the north side of our house. There are also three different styles of bird feeders – all regularly stocked – in the back yard. A birdbath is another provided amenity. In addition, there is an abundance of trees and bushes for the birds to perch in. Plus, we don’t own a cat, and we do own a large dog who effectively keeps cats away, but who ignores the birds.

Consequently, we have a fair share of birds flitting about our place. We regularly notice Turtle Doves (not Mourning Doves, but Turtle Doves!) and various types of Blue Jays pecking up seed on the ground. Towhees, Northern Flickers and Varied Thrushes are sometimes seen clinging to the feeders. Grosbeaks make appearances now and then, as do Finches and even occasionally Goldfinches. Chickadees and Juncos are regulars. But the most common diners at our seed dinners, by far, are the sparrows. They are also the boarders at our bird hotels, so it’s natural that they would be the most frequently sighted.

But then, that’s what I expected when I started catering to the birds. After all, sparrows are everywhere, right? As a matter of fact, there are at least 35 types of sparrow species in North America, with 15 of the species living in most areas of the nation. There are sparrows everywhere. They are the epitome of commonplace.

Actually the sparrow population is declining somewhat. No one is quite sure why, although there are many theories. Nevertheless, house sparrows are still probably the most abundant bird in the United States, with a population estimated as high as 400 million. (Which averages out to 1.2 sparrows for every person in the nation.) Declining or not, that’s a lot of birds!

Realize that sparrows are found around the world. I couldn’t find an estimate on what that number might be. But if 400 million live in the United States, well … yeah, it must be a HUGE number.

With that in mind, consider Jesus’ words: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).

Not one of the 400 million sparrows in our nation are forgotten by God. Nor does one fall to the ground unless the Lord allows it (Matthew 10:29). The same is true for the sparrows around the world, however many billions of birds that might be. Now that’s absolutely astounding!

Jesus adds an interesting side-note in this discussion as well. God even knows the number of hairs on our heads! (For the average person, that would fall somewhere between 100 – 150 thousand strands!) Now consider that according to Worldometer, our nation’s population on the day of this posting is 335,464,557. That’s a whole lot of follicles for the Lord to keep track of, just in the United States alone! But still, God’s got the exact count.

Let’s take this concept even further. A while back two scientists decided to estimate the total number of birds on the planet. The number they came up with was 200 to 400 billion individual birds. Compared to almost 8 billion people on earth, this amounts to about 25 to 50 birds per person. And not one of those birds is forgotten or falls without God’s direction either.

Same goes for all the animals. And all the insects. And all the fish. And all the people!

The point of sharing all these mind-boggling numbers is not to convince you that God’s got too much to handle. Quite the opposite! Rather the point is to demonstrate how magnificent our God is! This keeping track of the sparrows … and everything else … is routine stuff for the Lord.

Jesus makes the same point. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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?” (Matthew 6:25-26).

One of my most dearly loved things is the sound of birds chirping in the quiet of the morning. Whether home or away, a person can be confident that if he or she is outside, or can hear the outside, then they will hear the birds greet the morning with song.

The sparrows are constantly chirping. They are always fed and housed by the Lord, and their very existence is sustained by Him. They have nothing to worry about, so they don’t. Instead, the sparrows praise the Lord, their Provider, incessantly.

Consider the birds. There is much we can learn from them!

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Oddly Elegant

July 30, 2022 dbirsch

Is there any animal more gangly-looking than a giraffe? Yet the long-legged, long-necked creature appears almost regal. There’s an odd elegance to it. (If you’ve ever seen giraffes in person, you understand; they command one’s attention!)

Giraffes are not your every-day sort of animal. The ancient Romans were fascinated by giraffes, calling them “camel-leopards” because of their body structure and colorization. The Chinese emperor Yongle, when presented with a giraffe as a gift in the early 1400s, regarded it as a qulin (a mythical creature along the lines of a unicorn).

The lanky creature still intrigues viewers today.

Giraffes are the tallest land-dwelling animal. A mature male giraffe stands an astounding 15-19 feet tall, while females reach an almost as impressive 13-16 feet. Their necks comprise half of their height (as much as almost 8 feet!) while their long legs contribute up to another 6 feet. Just their tails alone can stretch to 8 feet long! Males typically weigh between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds; females between 1,200 and 2,500.

These herbivores reach these impressive dimensions by eating primarily acacia leaves, buds and twigs. But they ingest a lot of it – approximately 75 pounds per day! Their long, dexterous tongues (18 inches!) are highly efficient at wrapping around potential food, delicately plucking it off limbs and delivering it into their mouths. After grinding the greenery in their palate, the leaves are swallowed for processing in their complex stomach, and then passed all the way back up the neck for further chewing.

Giraffes gain 70% of their moisture from the foliage they eat, so they typically only drink once every several days. If need be, they can go without water for as long as three weeks. When they do drink, they must splay their front legs at a 45 degree angle to reach the water with their mouths.

Their coats consist of patches of orange, chestnut, brown or nearly black, surrounded by white or cream-colored borders. This camouflage pattern can hide the animals well in the mixed light and shade of savannah woodlands, something especially important for the newborns. Both males and females have 5 inch cartilage “horns” called ossicones on their heads – the females’ ossicones displaying tufts of hair on top while the ones on bulls are bald.

Giraffes are social creatures, residing in herds for both comfort and safety. A gathering of giraffes is referred to with the descriptive and appropriate term “tower.”

Full-grown giraffes have few predators beyond lions and humans. Their excellent vision and elevated sight-plane assist in avoiding danger, and their long, powerful legs brandishing dinner-plate sized hooves (12 inches in diameter!) prove effective at dissuading most aggressors. However, the young face a 25-50% mortality rate in the first months of their lives due to leopards, lions and hyenas – despite their mothers’ best efforts to defend them.

The calves are born via a headfirst drop of five feet from their standing mommas. (Imagine that!) Amazingly, they are rarely hurt in the process. When born their necks are significantly shorter in proportion than they will be as adults, but newborns still stand about 6 feet tall and weigh up to 150 pounds! In 20 minutes the calves are standing; within an hour they are able to walk; in a day run. In just a year giraffe calves can measure 10 feet tall.

The stature of a giraffe is obviously impressive. A less evident but perhaps even more astonishing feature is the circulatory system in the creatures – their great height necessitating special traits in order to enable basic function. Their two-foot, 25 pound hearts must generate an extraordinary amount of blood pressure to maintain blood flow to the brain that resides eight feet above.

Yet this would be a major complication whenever the animal lowers its head, causing excess blood flow to the brain, were it not for a complex network of arteries and veins that prevents it. Meanwhile, as excess blood is blocked from the head, a series of valves in the neck ensure that blood is also flowing through the veins from the head back to the heart, even with the head down, (countering the pull of gravity!). In the same way, as it raises its head again, blood vessels constrict and push blood into the brain, keeping the animal from fainting. (How incredible!)

Another remarkable trait of giraffes is how little they sleep. They can function with only five to thirty minute’s sleep in a 24-hour period, though they typically sleep several hours. (Even that amount being scant.) They will rest lying down, especially at night, but can also sleep standing. When in a deep sleep, they will bend their necks backward and rest their heads on their hips or thighs.

Giraffes have only two gaits: walking and galloping. When running, they can sprint about 37 miles per hour, and can sustain 31 mph for over a mile … their necks moving backward and forward in rhythm to maintain balance.

Originally the species populated over twenty African nations. Now they are extinct in seven. They are primarily found in East Africa; though Southern Africa boasts some. The largest concentration of giraffes is found in national parks and reserves. Typical life span of a giraffe in the wild is about 25 years; they can live longer in captivity.

Not surprisingly, giraffes are the celebrities of the evolutionists, who propose that the animals were forced to stretch and grow longer necks and legs over time as tropical forests reverted to more open savannahs. The argument goes that the giraffes “needed” the extra length to reach the most luxurious browse in the tops of trees to survive, so over countless years of reaching, their necks and legs evolved.

Yet, as Wikipedia records, the early fossil records demonstrate that “the elongation of the neck appears to have started early in the giraffe lineage.” Well, of course that’s what the fossil records show! Because that’s how the Creator, in his unrivaled creativity, created them on Day Six of Creation! (Along with all of their other remarkable special features or “adaptations,” as biologists call them).

In fact, the wonders of the animal called a giraffe denounce as foolishness any other conclusion than that the Lord made them with all their unique and astounding features and in all their oddly elegant splendor.

How imaginative is our God! How wondrous are his works! How blessed are we to recognize this, and how natural then is our praise.

The psalmist had it right: “Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate” (Psalm 111:1-4).

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Genesis 1:24-25
And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

If you enjoyed this post on one of God’s amazing creatures, you may also enjoy some past posts on this site about other animals. To access them, simply find the “categories” window in the side bar, (it’s the final one), and click on “God’s Creatures.” If the sidebar doesn’t appear on your device, go to the top of the post and click on “comments,” then scroll down.

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Silently Observing; Actively Intervening

January 29, 2022 dbirsch

We have a rat problem in our backyard. (Don’t judge; you almost certainly have rats in your yard and neighborhood too, no matter how nice it may be!)

The typical Norway rat can (and does) live anywhere. They love to burrow under things, and any pile or structure that can provide shelter is readily used. Furthermore, a female rat will often birth from 4 to 6 litters per year, typically producing about 50 babies annually. But in ideal conditions she can give birth to even more litters and more ratlets, and have up to 150 pups (or more!) over the course of that year. Those offspring are fending for themselves in just 3 weeks! So yes, we can be confident that we all have a rat problem.

At our place we have a large garage in the backyard, and our neighbors all around also have outdoor structures. There are rat holes under every one of them. The reason multiple tunnels lead under our backyard fences is because we have an active bird feeding station there. There is always plenty of seed that falls to the ground under the feeders, and the birds don’t peck it all up. The vermin are glad to glean what is left over.

I love watching the birds; I hate feeding the rats. (But unfortunately, a person can’t do one without doing the other.)

Consequently, it is common to see the nasty rodents under the feeders at night. And the bolder ones even during the day! I have trapped them, poisoned them, and shot them with my pump BB gun. (I would use larger weapons, but we live in the city.) Our dog has even taken a few out. But it’s a losing battle.

However, the tide may be turning.

The other evening, my daughter was in the backyard with our golden retriever, and she was startled to see the silhouette of a large owl perched on our basketball backboard in the dark. The owl just stared at her as she snapped its picture, (see the photo above), before finally retreating to some nearby evergreens.

It appears that our nocturnal visitor was a barred owl. (Also known as a striped owl or hoot owl.) Barred owls earn their name from the obvious strips on their belly feathers. They are one of the larger owls, growing as tall as two feet, and are actually considered an invasive species here on the west coast. They prefer residing and hunting in mature forests, but there one sat in the backyard of a residential area of South Tacoma.

Barred owls will eat pretty much anything that moves, but their preferred main course happens to be small mammals (such as rats!). Their keen night-vision and silent flight make them formidable predators for scurrying rodents. From its perch on the basketball backboard, that owl could see virtually the entire backyard … including under the birdfeeders. I wonder how many nights it has quietly nestled there hunting, and how many rats it has taken out? We certainly haven’t been seeing as many of the disgusting critters lately. Perhaps Mr. or Mrs. Owl has snagged multiple meals there recently?

Just as we all have physical rats in our yards, so we all have spiritual rats in our lives.

Those vermin show themselves in many different ways. They scurry through our lives in every sort of sin and deposit their stinking feces in every aspect of our lives – in our relationships with both God and people, in our perspectives, in our foolish decisions, in our selfish actions, and in our hasty and hurtful speech. They burrow into our minds through worries, fears, frustrations, discontent and struggling self-esteem. Nothing is unaffected by their presence.

Try as we might and do what we will, those spiritual rats seem to thrive. Our sinful natures make for prime habitat for spiritual rodents.

The Lord observed our predicament, was disturbed at our dilemma, and was determined to get involved. “The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene [for us]; so his own arm achieved [our] salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him” (Isaiah 59:15-16).

Our Savior swooped silently in and actively intervened. In unfathomable love, he spread his “wings” wide on the cross to win full atonement for our multiple mistakes. It cost him dearly, but he paid the price gladly, and he paid the price fully. And though he died, Satan and the grave could not contain him.

That same Savior sees the havoc the spiritual vermin propagate in our hearts, minds, bodies and lives. His heart grieves at the pain and problems they bring to his people. And he still isn’t content to simply silently observe.

Our Lord who loves us continues to actively intervene on our behalf. And he is the ultimate predator. For the sake of this metaphor, Jesus is the silent but deadly effective owl. (The Bible goes stronger by describing him as the “Lion of Judah” who triumphs – Rev. 5:5.)

As his people walk in his Word and look to him in faith, he swoops in to pluck off those spiritual rats plaguing them. Not always and not all of them, but at just the right time, the ones that absolutely need to be removed. (Unfortunately, never in this world will we be totally free from oppressing vermin.) But how wonderful when yet another problem is remedied by our Redeemer’s flashing talons!

Which is why Moses, after the Lord miraculously brought the Israelites safely through the Red Sea, sang this song, “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name” (Exodus 15:2-3).

A barred owl, and a loving Savior – both silently observing and actively intervening. Both incredibly effective! Both wonderfully comforting!

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Thoughts of Home

November 6, 2021 dbirsch

It never fails. If I happen to spot a flock of ducks or geese flying overheard, they always take my thoughts immediately back to the home where I grew up in Michigan. It’s always immediate, and it’s typically bittersweet.

This may strike you as strange. However, I recognize exactly why the view of a skein of ducks or geese winging across the sky transports me 2,400 miles across the Continent and 40 years back in time.

I grew up about a mile from Saginaw Bay on the Southwest side of Lake Huron. Every Fall, reams of ducks and geese in huge flocks flew … and still fly … over my parents’ house. And every Fall I would watch with awe as they flapped rhythmically overhead, continuing their migration South or returning from foraging in the fields, to access the safety of the nearby Bay.

The number of flights seemed unending, and I could watch them untiringly. Sometimes I would attempt to count the birds in a flock, and the totals in just one flock could easily reach hundreds.

I recognized the repeated V pattern of their skeins, of course. (Sometimes the flights were in patterns forming a J or a W instead.) However, I didn’t understand why they flew in those formations

There actually seems to be several reasons for the repeated flight patterns. First of all, it is the most efficient way to fly as a group. The staggered positioning results in a reduction of wind resistance for those in the following positions, conserving a significant portion of their energy. When the leader grows tired, he or she falls back and another bird takes their place.

In addition, flying in formation seems to assist with the communication and coordination within the group. They can more easily see one another and adjust their positioning and wingbeats accordingly. The birds actually synchronize flaps based on the bird’s beats in front of them!

Ducks and geese typically fly at about 40 to 60 miles an hour, depending on the breed and the weather conditions. However, their flight speed can actually be significantly higher when migrating with advantageous winds. In such conditions, Mallards can fly up to 800 miles in 8 hours. Astonishingly, Canada Geese can actually cover 1,500 miles in one day in favorable winds. The elevation of ducks and geese in migration varies greatly, from as low as 200 feet to as high as 4,000.

Where we currently live in Washington with the abundant water supplies, it is also common to spot flights of ducks or geese. (Though the flocks certainly aren’t as abundant or as large as where I grew up.) But I am glad to see the ones I see.

Recently as my eyes caught sight of a V-shaped flight overhead, it took me back again to the home of my youth. Yup, bittersweet once again.

But it occurred to me that instead of looking back, I should let the flying birds take my view forward. They are journeying to a better and more pleasant place. But so are we! The journey is difficult, but the destination is sublime.

Furthermore, when the Lord calls us home, we will fly to him … just as the ducks and geese leave behind the impending winter and wing to the more pleasant destination. Moses used this very picture in Psalm 90: “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

Yes, the migratory birds always remind me of my previous home. How much better if they took my mind to my future Home in Heaven instead? My past home was marvelous; my future home wonderful beyond comprehension! My past home holds many fond memories; my future home holds a joyous eternity of memories to be made!

And here’s what clinched this new viewpoint for me: The flocks fly in the formation of a V. They are a visual reminder of the Victory we have in Jesus our Savior. Victory over sin, death and the devil. Victory in regard to our eternal destiny. Victory! Ultimate Victory!

“’Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Yes, the sight of a skein of ducks or geese winging overhead will still take me back home. But from now on they will also remind me of Home.

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Seeking Sweetness

October 23, 2021 dbirsch

I was about to open the gate from our backyard to our front yard when I spotted it. A lovely Rufous Hummingbird was feeding just a few feet away from me. Seeing Hummingbirds around our place isn’t unusual at all. I have various flowers in beds all around our property, and some are particularly attractive to the colorful birds: New York Asters, Russian Sage, Cardinal Flower and Purple Bee Balm, just to name a few.

But at this time of year, there aren’t many blooms available. However, in the front yard immediately beside the gate, the red trumpets of a Pineapple Sage linger. And that’s where I saw the hummingbird, hovering a few feet away, drinking deep from the Sage’s nectar. It darted away, only to return and drink again. Zipped away. Zipped back.

What magnificent creations of our God these fascinating birds are!

All of the Hummingbird species live in the Americas, with most in the tropical Central and South America. There are approximately 350 variations of Hummingbirds in the world, which makes them the second largest family of birds, while also averaging the smallest size in the bird kingdom. (In fact, they are the smallest animals in the world with a backbone.) Most of the birds are 3-5 inches long and weigh only a few grams. Hummingbird eggs are about the size of peas, and the newly hatched offspring are no bigger than a penny.

The birds earn their name from the soft humming sound their wings produce while flying. Hummingbirds in flight average 20-30 miles per hour, but can reach as high as 60. Their wings beat between 50 and 200 flaps per second depending on the direction of flight, the purpose of their flight, and the surrounding air conditions. The rapidity of their wing beats allows the birds to fly in all directions – forward, backward, sideways and even upside down! And, of course, they are the only bird which can hover. (Again, due to their rapid wingbeats. Somewhat like treading water, only in the air!) They are the ultimate aerial artists, demonstrating astounding agility in flight.

But God made them this way because their primarily source of sustenance is the nectar they extract from flowers through their long bills. They don’t suck up the nectar; they lap it up with their fringed, forked tongues … tongues that lick 10-15 times per second when feeding.

“Hummers” must consume approximately one-half of their weight in sugar daily, and the average Hummingbird feeds 5-8 times per hour. They can eat up to 3 times their own weight in food every single day. In addition to nectar, these birds consume pollen as well as small flying insects and spiders, and may also sip tree sap or juice from broken fruits. The birds digest natural sucrose—the sugar found in floral nectar—in 20 minutes with 97 percent efficiency for converting the sugar into energy.

Which the little dynamos desperately need! An average Hummingbird’s heart rate while perched is 225 beats per minute, but it climbs to more than 1,200 beats per minute in the air. (We humans average only 60-100 beats per minute when not active.) While resting, a Hummingbird averages 250 breaths per minute! When flying, that number also increases.

However, Hummingbirds are one of the few types of birds that are able to transition into a brief torpor when needed, such as during a cool night. Torpor is a very deep, sleep-like state in which metabolic functions are slowed to a minimum (1/15 of their normal rate) and a very low body temperature is maintained.

Hummingbirds are one of God’s key pollinators. As the birds sustain their own lives by going flower to flower, they also sustain the flower species by enabling reproduction. Interestingly, hummers can’t smell, but have keen eyesight and are attracted to brightly colored flowers, especially those in shades of red, orange, and bright pink. The birds instinctually recognize that their sustenance is found in the sweetness of nectar, so they are always seeking sweetness.

While this is all extremely interesting, (or at least I find it so), how does this encourage you and me in our walk to heaven?

In a number of places, the Bible actually describes God’s Word as sweet. Both the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:1-4) and the Apostle John (Revelation 10:8-11) are told by the Lord to eat scrolls with God’s messages on them, and then relay those messages to God’s people. The scrolls tasted sweet!

The psalm writer was moved by the Holy Spirit to describe the Scriptures this way: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). David used the same description regarding the words of the Lord in Psalm 19: “They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10).

Solomon wrote this: “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). His wise phrase is appropriate for both the words one person speaks to another, as well as the words God shares with us. But especially the words that God shares! Passages that show us God’s grace and love and forgiveness are indeed “sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (and heart!).

Why does God describe his words as “sweet?” Because most people crave sweet things, and the Lord wants to impress upon us that it is proper for us to crave his truths! The parts that address our sinfulness aren’t so attractive, (though they are necessary), but the Gospel message of God’s love and mercy sure “tastes” wonderful!

And that Scriptural “sweetness” provides spiritual energy too. Joy, peace, and certain hope. Confidence and security. Motivation to live for God and love one another. A purpose for now and an eternal destination for later.

So seek the sweetness of God’s Word, and let it fuel your spiritual metabolism.

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Always Soaring, Always Seeing

August 21, 2021 dbirsch

I saw my first wild bald eagle many years ago when we lived in the north end of Tacoma. One day I was in our backyard when it glided over me. The sight was thrilling then, and I still remember it clearly. Since then I’ve seen many eagles, sometimes quite close. A few times I’ve actually witnessed them plucking trout out of a lake with their strong talons. (Once ironically while I was fishing and catching nothing!)