Often I write about how the variety of birds, chipmunks, and squirrels who visit our yard intrigue me as well as paint life lessons right before my eyes. We also seem to have our fair share of resident deer who’ve adopted our lil acre for places to sleep, munch on frozen leftover plants, or merely pass through as they make their way to neighboring homes. Oh and of course there are the rabbits we see quite frequently and most recently a pair of racoons made an appearance, startling us awake when one of them tipped over the pan of bird seed we provide on the deck. What amazes me is how all these lil creatures find things to eat whether it’s from our provision or as I said, frozen leftovers in the ground.

We’ve got two small feeders–small trays on a hook actually–that hang from our front porch. I can sit in our living room and watch birds swoop in for a quick bite, others prefer to sit and dominate the surface of the tray. Seed they managed to “splash” over the edge of the tray lands in an empty flower box that sits on the porch rail. Bare dirt waits for spring planting of flowers serving now as a catchall for the discarded seed. But, nothing goes to waste so it seems. This morning, before sitting down to write, one of our resident chipmunks was sitting in the dirt filling his cheeks with leftovers. Just how did he know he could find his next meal in that flower box?

For Christmas, we received a fancy birdfeeder that allows me via a camera and an app on my phone to “watch” who comes to enjoy the seed and cracked corn we put in that tray. Admittedly, I’m trying to attract crows because I find them utterly intriguing and although they’ve not surrendered to our persuasions just yet, we’ve enjoyed cardinals, blue jays and other small birds at the tray. Interestly enough, once the feeder was attached to our clothesline pole, it took a few weeks before our birds “found it”. Eventually their appearances became so frequent that I turned off notifications of activity from popping up on my phone, the “hits” were becoming too numerous throughout the day.

As I mentioned about two racoons coming around one late night, after hearing the pan of seed bounce off its small table, I turned on the light to see their well fed bodies, eyes looking up at me through the glass, absolutely no fear towards seeing me as well. Once again, I raised the question in my mind….”how do they know there’s something to eat on our deck? Can they smell birdseed?” I know you’re probably thinking, “well, why don’t you ‘google’ it and find out?” And, yes, I could, and perhaps I will but that’s not the point I’m chasing.

Quietly observing the actions of these birds and small creatures, all part of nature, created and put here by God points me–over and over–to how much, with great abundance and generosity, God places what I need in front of me. Psalm 34:8 says “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

How do I or you do that? How is it possible to actually “taste” God? By comparison it’s easy to see His goodness…we have evidence of that in all of creation. Just this morning upon rising at 6:15 am as I walked to the living room with coffee, grabbing my Bible, before I turned on a light the bright moon in the western skies filled my eyes. I actually stood in the darkness of our home for a few minutes taking in the majestic view of our familiar moon. And I marveled about God.

When the sun began to make its appearance I stood in an open door to breathe in a few deep breaths of fresh cold air, gazing into the warm rays slowly making their way over the tree line behind our home and the neighbors. I never tire of the colors the rising sun paints in the sky. My eyes are grateful to “see” that indeed God is good.

Deep within my educational years I know that God placed instinct in every one of His creatures. They’ve been given all information for foraging, surviving, adjusting to each of our four seasons in Michigan. Their knowledge is truly amazing and really does provide life lessons for me, for you hopefully as well. Psalm 19: 1 declares “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”  One need not look far to experience His glory and work, right? Right.

So, today, I’m thinking and connecting some random thoughts together…how birdseed is put out luring in beautiful birds and lil creatures to feast and be fed…how they “find” the feeders…how God has placed His Word in the form of our Bible into my hands and He waits for me to open its pages, to sit, dine, feast, and be satisfied. When I do what can I expect?

I suppose–with great purpose and putting into practice–everything that’s commanded of me…to love, serve, share the gospel message…my life will be full and satisfied and hopeful of all, “spill over” into the lives of everyone I meet, for nothing that is good of God is ever wasted.

That’s what occurred to me this morning as I watched a lil chipmunk stuff his cheeks with birdseed that spilled out of the tray above his head. He’s living out his purpose and I need to do the same, we all do!