There is a bird on my street that I admire.
I’ve never actually seen her. I’ve only heard her sing.
And sing she does. Every morning at 5am in the cold and in the dark. In the time between the night and the day. When everyone is asleep and the neighborhood is silent.
It seems as if all the other birds are asleep too because her song is singular. It echoes through the chambers of our street. She takes center stage daily in the predawn for her important solo that calls in a new day. She’s insistent and almost adamant in her tone. This little powerhouse must like taking on the challenge. I find her to be courageous and bold. That she would be so faithful that a new day is coming even though she can’t see it. And she steps out in the night alone before the rest of us.
Eventually other birds join her cause and their birdsong becomes a collective rising. The sun comes up and then we awake to a new day, most of us on the block never even knowing what this little bird commenced.
In our current moment, we are a people living in the night. We cannot see what is beyond us, let alone what is around us. Things are unclear and we’re uncertain of the shadows shifting about. The usual happenings of our world are in a deep slumber and all the while we have been thrust into this liminal space. We are floating through the unfolding and vulnerable to the elements at bay.
Yet often, like my little neighborhood bird, it is in the dark night that we find our song. When we are moved to dig deep inside ourselves and discover our own song of faith. A song to sing until the sun comes up and a new day begins. Some generations have had to wait years, some decades for their new day to begin. Yet they held on, singing, chanting, knowing that whatever it was they had to endure, it wouldn't be forever.
An old gospel song comes to mind:
I'm so glad troubles don't last always
I'm so glad
Trouble don't last always
I'm so glad...
May not come when you want Him
But He's on time
In times of trouble, found Him to be
A friend of mine
In time storm clouds rise
He'll be there
All your burdens
I know the Lord will help you to bear...
Weeping may endure for a night
Keep the faith it will be alright...
If you can just keep the faith...
Trouble don't last always
I’m so glad
Keep the faith good people. Some days will be harder than others, but we need your song. And on the days you can’t sing, know that others will be singing for you, including the little bird on my street.
“Trouble Don’t Last Always” by Rev. Timothy Wright & The Chicago Interdenominational Mass Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlNBdOcpq6s
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash