Diario del proyecto Christian Naturalists Observations

Psalm 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 40646880

“What kind of a bird is that?” a friend at church asked excitedly while pointing toward a nearby tree. It was just a typical female Northern Cardinal, yet I experienced a spark of joy as I provided the answer! Not because a cardinal is an overly exciting bird, but simply because someone asked me about a bird!

Over time, things can become stale. When migration ends and we’re left with the usual summertime residents, birding can become boring. As our bird lists get longer, lifers are harder to come by and our joy wanes.

In much the same way, our Christianity can also become lukewarm over time. The joy fades with the same Bible reading plan year after year; the same pastor standing in the pulpit Sunday after Sunday; the same few members doing all the work. Church activities become just another check box on the daily to-do list. Is that you?

In the book Good Birders Still Don’t Wear White, bird guide Carlos A. Bethancourt gives us a clue how to break that boredom and restore joy: “When I see the joy and delight on the faces of the birders – some first-timers to the neotropics – I often think back to my first sighting of that species, and it’s nearly as exhilarating for me as if it were my lifer as well. My excitement is in the sharing.”

The Lord Jesus commissioned us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” This command wasn’t solely for the growth of the church, but for our own sakes! Jesus knows the exciting rejuvenation and joy that we’d experience in sharing the gospel. There is nothing better than stepping out in faith and sharing your testimony with a stranger to exhilarate your Christian walk. Has your Christianity become lukewarm, stale, or boring? The joy is in the sharing!

Like other iNat projects which bring together groups of people based on a shared identity, the Christian Naturalists Observations Project is for like-minded Christian naturalists to share their observations as they explore God's marvelous Creation. iNaturalist rightfully promotes acceptance; a courtesy that should be extended to all groups. Therefore, this project is not intended to exclude or reduce any group of people or their contributions to iNaturalist. All are welcome to join and participate.

“I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders.” Psalms 9:1, The Message

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66481552 - Blue-headed Vireo; Greene County, Georgia. December 12, 2020.

The discipline of writing about and describing the wonders of creation is nothing new. The Bible tells us that in his four-thousand and five proverbs and songs (that’s a lot of blogging!), King Solomon “spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish.” And how often did King David refer to the natural wonders around him as he wrote Psalms in praise to the God of heaven? “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained…” A view towards the mountains of Israel caused David’s heart to leap in praise, and his pen to write poems and songs of worship.

While I’m no Solomon, I have been journaling and blogging for several years now. I confess that I don’t journal every day, and I’ve certainly gone through some dry spells. But even if there are gaps, it has proved to be an invaluable habit. While the whole process can seem introspective, and even self-centered, I see it as a form of worship.

“My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” Psalm 45

​Even the simplest blog post and photograph can glorify the Creator. Pointing out the wonders of His creation exalts our God as the creator and sustainer of all things. Recognizing and delighting in the works of His hands, rather than in some other pursuit, is giving praise where praise is due. It is not a replacement for the lifting of hands in the congregation, but can certainly produce a fuller, more vibrant life of worship.

Jeremiah 8:7 Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each year.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 19396155 - Redhead Ducks; Walton County, Georgia. January 2, 2019.

Creation is filled with wonders, and not in the least is the wonder of migration. It seems the Creator has programmed this urge to come-and-go with the seasons within many of the creatures.

Migration is a great thing for birds and wildlife. When food sources run low because of winter or because of drought, migration allows species to move to another land of plenty until things turn around. Migration also allows animals to move to the best suited habitat for breeding or over-wintering.

Migration is also a great thing for photographers! Migration "rotates the stock" of wildlife subjects for photographers. A bird that is absent one day may suddenly show up on the wings of fall or spring migration. Each season brings a whole new host of photo subjects right into your area. I can walk out my back office back door and photograph a Great Blue Heron almost any time of the year. But wait until January and the wonder of migration makes a group of Redhead Ducks magically appear where they weren't the day before!

And oh the wonders of spring and fall migration! Warblers, warblers, warblers everywhere; alive in bright colors of yellow, black and white! Migration is wonderful software programmed within each species by our Creator!