This time, we look to the skies for the final week of our Christian spiritual practice challenge.
Professor Charlotte Sleigh introduces this week’s challenge, exploring how birdwatching can deepen our joy in God’s creation.
Seeing the birds as Jesus saw them
Have you ever wondered what species Jesus was thinking about when he invited his disciples to ‘look at the birds of the air’ (Matthew 6:26-7)?
Until recently, I confess I had always thought about those birds in a generic sort of way: a sermon illustration that didn’t need any special detail to make its point. Like many amateur bird watchers, I have blank spots in my knowledge, especially for the smaller species, which I classify as ‘little brown jobs’.
This week, it occurred to me that Jesus, knowing his Father had created each species and declared it very good, was probably looking more carefully than I had previously imagined.
What bird might Jesus have been looking at?
A quick dive into Wikipedia revealed many bird species in modern-day Israel-Palestine, but the one that caught my attention was the Palestine sunbird. It’s about the size of a starling and somewhat similar in appearance, except that the upper half of the male’s body is a super-glossy, blue-green burst of colour. It must make a dazzling sight flying in the sunshine, uttering its high and jingling song.
The sunbird’s curved beak hides a long tongue with a brush-shaped tip, perfectly evolved to lick nectar from inside flowers. No seeds to reap or store for the sunbird, just as Jesus said. Its Latin name, given when it was ‘discovered’ by Europeans in the mid-nineteenth century, is Cinnyris osea: the holy bird.
Looking up as a spiritual practice
I can imagine Jesus interrupting his own sermon and pointing up to the sky: Wow! Look at them! Aren’t they beautiful? My Father made them!
Making a habit of looking up to see what birds are around literally lifts our eyes from the worries that bog us down, just like Jesus said. And you might be surprised by what you see.
In Canterbury, where I live, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the fastest living creature on the planet, the peregrine falcon. You might see pigeons twisting their scissored wings against the wind. You might see starlings swirling like flecks of the oncoming night, gathering themselves into a treetop compline.
In our poor, battered world, paying close attention to the species surrounding us is a spiritual gift. It develops our joy in God’s creation, a joy that can, in turn, fuel our love and care.
We will never know what species Jesus was pointing out when he told his disciples not to get paralysed by worry. But we can take his example as inspiration to look closely at the real birds and other species surrounding us. Why not look out for a starling today?
Watch our Spirituality and Discipleship Taster Term lecture
If you enjoyed the Spiritual Practices Challenge, you’ll benefit from this 20-minute video where our Principal, Alan Gregory, tells you more about the power of spiritual practice and its role in discipleship.
Sign up for our Spirituality and Discipleship Taster Term!
Running for 10 weeks from March 7th to 24th June, the Spirituality and Discipleship taster term is the perfect way to experience theology study without a long-term commitment.
Wherever you are in the world, you can study in a way that fits your life:
- London: Weekly evening classes (Mondays, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm) at our Southwark campus
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