MUSINGS
                         

For the past week, I’ve been entertained by watching a pair of wrens take over the birdhouse my oldest brother gave us for Christmas. We have had wrens before, but they have always taken over a hanging flower basket, which then makes me have to choose their safety and comfort over the health of the flowers. We’ve had a couple of summers recently with a nearly dead hanging basket welcoming visitors to our home.

But this year, the wrens found the new house and decided to take over the lease. I didn’t realize how complex the process is for wrens to find a nesting site. The male builds mock nests in several places around his territory, and the female examines each spot before finally choosing where the finished nest will be built. It sounds a little like a bird-only episode of House Hunters. Once the site has been chosen, the female builds the nest and prepares for the eggs.

The male watches over the female by perching nearby and singing. It can be very loud, and it can go on all day. I’ve questioned the decision to hang the house right outside the front door. The little guy gets so into his song that I can see his entire body quivering as he sings. It’s like he’s auditioning for the lead in a community theatre musical.

I thought of all of this today as we sang Morning Has Broken. The second line is, Blackbird has spoken like the first bird. The hymn references the creation story in Genesis, so it fits well with our reading of Genesis. But creation isn’t just a one-time event. It’s happening all around us, all the time. The wren annoying me outside my front door is a miracle of creation. That doesn’t make me any less grumpy when it wakes me from a nap, but it’s a good reminder not to lose the wonder of the world full of life and beauty all around me.

James Phillips

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