I’ve started to think of the heart less as a container and more as a garden entrusted to our care. What we practice, welcome, and return to each day shapes what grows there, which makes spiritual formation feel less abstract and much more like daily stewardship.
I love birds. My mother taught me to appreciate nature and taught me to respect wildlife. Birds were her favorite. Now, mine also. I have been birding for several years and have done just what the author suggested to get started.
I taught my kids that birding is a way to come closer to the creator and how, I am teaching the same to my grandsons.
What a pleasure and presence it is!
Thank you for the short writing about your book. I hope to purchase it and keep it on my self or share it with others.
I’m glad you returned to the app recommendation with caution near the end; I’m certain that I would need it (or a human guide) to make sense of the spelled-out sound of a bird’s call, but then my attention would be pretty shallow. And the seasons—I’ve never picked up on that facet of how birding connects and grounds us, making us part of the world in a way that (so I’ve read) A/C and electric lighting have removed us.
Do you think tending to livestock on a farm or tending a local garden might have a similar impact on our spirits, or do you see complicating factors (e.g., commercial concerns) getting in the way?
I've been intrigued by birding. After reading this post, I'm glad to learn that I can start by putting up a bird feeder. I also enjoyed learning that birding can take our focus away from our human concerns.
I appreciate these comments on Attention: If we follow attention’s “stretch toward” all the way, no matter the object, then I think we’ll always end up at God.
Today's sermon at our church was on Psalm 27 - thinking about Gazing on the Beauty of the Lord.
I recently finished devotionally reading Kevin Burrell's Considering Sparrows and will add this to my list for fall.
Thank you for sharing this, Ragan! It was so beautiful and so inspiring! While I was reading this text it came to my mind the text of Matthew 6 - which by coincidence (?) I read this morning. If God takes care of them, their seasons and all they need, why do we stress about it? We have indeed a lot to learn from them, thank you for reminding us! Looking forward to read your book :) and include a bird feeder in my terrace :)
Karen, you've won the draw for a free copy of Ragan's book. Please DM me your full name and mailing address so that he can mail your copy to you! Congratulations!
I’ve been birding for years, but it’s only been recently that I’ve come to see it as a potential spiritual practice. I look forward to reading Ragan’s book! Also, he was on a recent episode of the Renovare podcast, and it was very good!
I will look for your book! It will be a great companion for
John Stott’s book about birding, The Birds, Our Teachers
My husband has a group of crows that he feeds ands interacts with, so far they have not been a murder, ;)
He feeds and talks to them and they leave him presents. When one sees him, it calls the others and they all come to see what he is doing.
I’ve started to think of the heart less as a container and more as a garden entrusted to our care. What we practice, welcome, and return to each day shapes what grows there, which makes spiritual formation feel less abstract and much more like daily stewardship.
I love birds. My mother taught me to appreciate nature and taught me to respect wildlife. Birds were her favorite. Now, mine also. I have been birding for several years and have done just what the author suggested to get started.
I taught my kids that birding is a way to come closer to the creator and how, I am teaching the same to my grandsons.
What a pleasure and presence it is!
Thank you for the short writing about your book. I hope to purchase it and keep it on my self or share it with others.
Peace.
I’m glad you returned to the app recommendation with caution near the end; I’m certain that I would need it (or a human guide) to make sense of the spelled-out sound of a bird’s call, but then my attention would be pretty shallow. And the seasons—I’ve never picked up on that facet of how birding connects and grounds us, making us part of the world in a way that (so I’ve read) A/C and electric lighting have removed us.
Do you think tending to livestock on a farm or tending a local garden might have a similar impact on our spirits, or do you see complicating factors (e.g., commercial concerns) getting in the way?
I hope Ragan will jump in with thoughts! Thanks for reading, Alec!
I've been intrigued by birding. After reading this post, I'm glad to learn that I can start by putting up a bird feeder. I also enjoyed learning that birding can take our focus away from our human concerns.
I appreciate these comments on Attention: If we follow attention’s “stretch toward” all the way, no matter the object, then I think we’ll always end up at God.
Today's sermon at our church was on Psalm 27 - thinking about Gazing on the Beauty of the Lord.
I recently finished devotionally reading Kevin Burrell's Considering Sparrows and will add this to my list for fall.
I just went birdwatching yesterday for a few hours. I totally agree that paying attention to Creation instructs us about the Creator.
Wonderful! Leaning into birding, as Ragan Sutterfield describes, can train our hearts to be habitats for the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for sharing this, Ragan! It was so beautiful and so inspiring! While I was reading this text it came to my mind the text of Matthew 6 - which by coincidence (?) I read this morning. If God takes care of them, their seasons and all they need, why do we stress about it? We have indeed a lot to learn from them, thank you for reminding us! Looking forward to read your book :) and include a bird feeder in my terrace :)
We have a tiny nest on the back porch that we are watching. :)
I grew up with the fable that every time you see a cardinal someone you love that has passed on is thinking of you. It always makes me smile.
I’ll look for this book! Thanks!
I love birds. I’m a bird watcher from my kitchen window.
Someone mentioned this book to me recently so this post made me pay attention!
Karen, you've won the draw for a free copy of Ragan's book. Please DM me your full name and mailing address so that he can mail your copy to you! Congratulations!
I’ve been birding for years, but it’s only been recently that I’ve come to see it as a potential spiritual practice. I look forward to reading Ragan’s book! Also, he was on a recent episode of the Renovare podcast, and it was very good!