A wake of buzzards.  A murder of crows.  A flamboyance of flamingos.  A pandemonium of parrots.  A murmuration of starlings.  All unique names for specific flocks of birds.  I love that last name, a murmuration of starlings.  A word picture if there ever was one.  The picture that comes to mind is a murmur going through the crowd...rippling through the mass.  Have you ever seen a flock of starlings fly?  It is amazing.  They fly together in formation, not like geese or other birds in a V formation.  No, they seem to ripple through the sky.  A twist here, a turn there.  A dive, a roll.  Executed flawlessly, seamlessly.  Moving as one.  They do that, scientists say by watching six or seven birds close by and operating in tandem.
An article I read on audobon.com said that for years they have been trying to figure out exactly what causes the birds to do this.  They say as far back as Roman times, they sought the answer.  The Romans believed that the gods hinted at their intentions by the way the birds flew.  They still don't have all the answers but through computer simulation and extensive study they believe they are closer to an explanation.  Here's your explanation...God created them that way.  Plain and simple.  He created them to live together, to fly together.  To abide together in harmony and be in relationship with each other.
We as God's people were also created to live together.  We cannot be loners and function as He created us to.  I know this better than most.  I am an introvert.  I crave alone time, I feel like I am on overload after a hectic day at work filled with people and noise.  But like those starlings, I need others around me, my family in the Lord.  We, as Christians find safety and security, comfort and solace in others.  Again, as an introvert and one who thinks they can take care of everything by themselves I know how much we really need each other.  Yesterday was a rough day.  Life-changing news came in and I felt paralyzed.  I tried for an hour or so to just 'get through' it but then knew I needed help.  Of course I prayed, that was first and foremost.  But then I texted my friend and just said I needed prayer.  She didn't have the answer, but she prayed.  She gave me a sense of community, that I wasn't alone in this and I felt better.  We function better when we know that we are not all alone.  We do better when we allow God's people to be His hands extended. 
Starlings have great protection because of the other birds around them.  They are afforded safety because of the mass of birds surrounding them.  When a bird of prey comes in to try to attack, the birds move as one.  Darting this way, dashing that.  It creates confusion and allows the birds to get away to safety.  Safety in numbers.  Didn't we learn that in Finding Nemo?  Having more numbers means more eyes and ears and  that means that they can detect predators more quickly. 
Again, we benefit from this behavior also.  Often when we allow ourselves to be alone and isolated, the enemy has a better chance of attacking and defeating us.  When we surround ourselves with wise and discerning Christians, we increase the likelihood that the enemy will be spotted and we will not be overtaken.  We alone do not have the capacity to defend ourselves on all sides.  That is why in the armed forces you hear them tell each other, "I've got your six", meaning they have your back.  That meaning originated during WWI with fighter pilots referring to the rear of the plane.  Sounds a lot like those starlings.  We all need someone to have our six. We cannot be lone wolves; even the Lone Ranger had Tonto.  As we learn to open our lives to others, as we learn to trust each other, as we listen to counsel, we gain an advantage over the enemy. 
In studies of the flocking tendencies of birds, scientists have ran the gamut with theories.  Natural telepathy, a group soul, thought transference.  They still don't know for sure what causes their synchronization, their harmony.  We know it is not telepathy or a group soul.  For us it is the Spirit.  It is not thought transference, but it is having the mind of Christ.  It is allowing the Spirit of God to lead us and guide us and the heart of Christ to bond us to each other.  As we follow a common belief, as we seek a common good we are better able to help each other through life no matter what hits us.
Another benefit of flocking is the increased opportunity to find food.  Our food is the word of God, "Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (NIV)  We get our food of the word through reading the bible, yes.  But we also grow and are nourished by sharing that food with others and receiving what they have to share.   My husband and I taught a bible study years ago and there was a couple that came that were very quiet, kind of new in the Lord.  They felt as though they did not have much to share with others who had been Christians longer.  Jim told the group that we all have something to share.  We all have unique experiences, individual viewpoints that can encourage and profit others.  We all have a different twist on things and that can help us to help each other grow in the Lord.  We incite each other to grow, "Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another." (NASB). 
So, we need to come together as a flock and learn to roll with each other.  To function as one in crisis, to bring nourishment to each other, to afford protection and comfort and consolation.  We need to become more like those birds in the air, remember what the bible says about them..."Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?" (NIV)
He loves us so.  Let us take their example and roll with it
A radiance of cardinals
A congregation of eagles
A prayer of gotwits
A family in Christ

For a beautiful video of a murmuration of starlings, follow this link
https://youtu.be/QOGCSBh3kmM

Information on birds flocking behavior from audobon.com
Information of names for flocks of birds from about.com

 
Ah, that age old question; If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?  I have heard that quote more times than I can count, but never knew who had first said it nor gave it any great thought.  The question was raised by George Berkeley, an Irish born philosopher and Anglican bishop.  He was making the argument that in order for an object 'to be' it means it has been perceived.  In fact he went so far as to state that even if man did not hear or see, that God did and that gave the thing in question existence.
Many say that the three items that humans need in order to survive are water, food and shelter.  And those are three very important things necessary to our survival.  But I propose there is something else just as important, maybe even more important in order for us not only to survive, but to thrive. As humans we have the basic need for acknowledgment.  We need to feel that we are recognized, that we are valued, that we have worth.  We want to feel that we not only exist, but that we are perceived by others; that we are known, that we are recognized and that we are understood.  That we are not alone in this world.  That phrase 'no man is an island' is very apropos.
I remember that for years I felt that I just existed, that I was not 'perceived' by anyone.  That my day to day routine went unnoticed and that no one really cared.  I have shared before the dysfunction that I grew up in.  I craved affirmation.  Because I felt that I had no value, that I was worthless, I got involved with things and people that I should not have.  I would do anything to feel the warmth of human contact, even if it was only temporary.   That is how strong a person's need for acknowledgment and recognition is.  That is how strong a person's need to feel something, anything is.  At that point, even feeling pain qualified.
It wasn't until years later, looking back on my life that I realized I was never truly alone. That there had been 'Someone' there that whole time, even though I had not perceived it.  I see now, in retrospect that the God who made me, who loved me before my very existence here on earth was with me all along.  That just because I didn't perceive Him that didn't mean that He wasn't there.  I can look back and see little signs that He was there.  Little kindnesses done by others.  Experiences that cannot be explained away.  Little insights into the heavenly realm that I only now can understand and appreciate.  I cannot tell you why I went through what I did, or why others go through hardships and grief and pain.  All I can say is that there is a God, a great loving God who is there and who is also just waiting to be acknowledged.  He desires to have relationship with us.  He desires to be perceived by us.  The difference though is that He is and He exists apart from our perception.  He is and was and always will be.  He just desires that we would take part in His great plan for us, to be a part of the amazing adventure called life that He has set before us. 
See, the thing about us humans is that we not only buy into that premise called 'seeing is believing', we also consider it true, feeling is believing.  We could not be more inaccurate.   Our feelings are fickle, unpredictable and often arbitrary.  There are days where my feelings are all over the place.  Worry, fear, anger, frustration and then happiness, delight and elation.  And that's just ten minutes in my day!  I have come to learn that even when my earthly eyes don't perceive God, that He is there and He is faithful.  That even when I don't 'feel' Him, He is a very present help, the only constant in my life.
Just like that tree in the forest, with it's trunk, it's branches, it's leaves; that tree that does make a sound when it falls, a sound that God hears even when there is not a human to be seen, He created us also.  Wonderfully and fearfully made the scriptures say.  He made us, unique and beautiful.  Intricate and elaborate.  Exquisite and remarkable.  So it goes without saying that if He hears that tree fall, and if He cares for the bird that rests in that tree, how much more He cares for us.  And like that bird that nests in the tree, that bird that cares for it's young, He cares for us.  There are many scripture references that speak of Him as that bird providing safe haven for it's young.  Psalm 91:4, "under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark."  Psalm 36:7, "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings."  Psalm 57:1, "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge."  Psalm 63:7, "
For you have been my help and in that shadow of your wings I sing for joy." 
He is our haven, our refuge, our place of safety, our home.  And as comforting as it is for us to know that He hears that tree when it falls even though no one else is there, that tree has no knowledge of that.  We are not that tree.  We, as Christians have that knowledge of Him.  We know that He loves us.  That His father's heart cares for us.  That no matter the circumstances that He is always there for us, that He always hears us.  The next time you feel alone, the next time you feel that no one is there to hear you when you fall, know that He is there.  That He is there and that He not only perceives you, but that He loves you and will hold you through it all.




Information on George Berkeley found on brittanica.com

I had the privilege of being asked to be a part of the birth of my newest grandchild a little over a week ago.  This was the fourth birth I have had the honor of being a part of as a spectator per se, and it never loses it's wonder.  That moment of seeing that child being ushered into this world by that doctor is an amazing one.  It's like we all hold our breathe, and then there she is!  All that time of preparation and growth in mama's tummy and then, behold this beautiful baby.  All the pain and pressure and pushing and then this!  A glorious example of God's workmanship.  After all, He says He knew us while we were yet in the womb.  And while we would like to take credit for creating that little bundle of joy, it was God who breathed life into the process.  Who took a physical act and turned it into an embryo that became a person with a body, mind, soul and spirit. 
As I looked with amazement at this new member of our family I wondered at how it all 'felt'.  That rush into the light.  The cacophony of sound a barrage on those tiny perfect ears.  To feel the air on her face, to experience the temperature changes.  What an extreme change, what a moment of perplexity, but also what a marvel.  All that time incubating to prepare her for just this moment.  Her grand entrance into a new world, into a new life.
As I pondered all these things about this beautiful birth process I also started to ponder about another birth.  That birth into the Kingdom of God, that spiritual birth.  Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter 3 that a person must be born from above.  Nicodemus looked at Him in astonishment and said how is a man to be born again?  He did not understand that he must be reborn into the spirit.  Reborn as a child of God.
I remember when I accepted Jesus as my Saviour.  There was this time when my heart was being prepared.  There were small changes occurring that were preparing me for that big change.  Looking back I can see that God was moving behind the scenes.  Bringing new people into my life.  Softening my heart.  Causing me to question things in my life.  Preparation and growth.  Then came the pressure and the pushing and yes, even some pain.  It often takes pain to make us change.  I was stubborn and set in my ways.  I wanted what I wanted and didn't care about the people I hurt to get it.  I look back and that truly is a different person.  I have shared some of my past in other previous posts.  I was not a 'good' person, I don't even think I was that nice.  I was out for myself and that was it.  But when that rebirth came, oh what a change.  No, it was not overnight, but it did happen.  The things of the old life fell off.   The drinking, the drugs, the promiscuity.  The lies, the apathy, the disregard for others.
I came out of that dark place literally into His marvelous light.  That rush into light; that cacophony of sound!  Unlike anything I had ever experienced before.  The warmth of His love enveloping me.  What an extreme change, how perplexing, but what a marvel!  The light of God shining on me.  It showed me both the good and the bad.  The sound of the voice of His Spirit speaking to me, "walk this way".  "Do these things, let go of those things."  The temperature in my heart changed from cold to burning with His love.  Thinking of this birth brings tears to my eyes just as does the birth of my children, my grandchildren.  A new life.  A testimony of His love and His life.  What a glorious thing. 
But. oh I cannot wait for one more 'birth' so to speak.  That final birth into His heavenly realm.  That crossing of the threshold from life into death into life again.  All the preparation and growth, all the pressure, the pain and then that final push.  Entering into a light so magnificent, so dazzling it will overwhelm us.  Entering into world of sound so melodic, so beautiful words won't be able to express them.   Entering into the warmth of His presence, what can compare? 
So as I ponder the birth of my newest grandbaby, of all my grandbabies I marvel at how great God is.  That He brings new life, new hope into our lives. He truly is the great Physician, ushering us into not only a new life as we receive Jesus as Lord, but into that new life in heaven with Him.  And just as we rejoiced over the birth of that baby, our loved ones who have gone before us will rejoice as we enter into the fulfillment of His promise of new life in Him.  What a change, what a marvel.