Workshop:
Six Conversations for Writing Creative
Journals
“But
ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will
tell you; ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of
the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of
the Lord had done this?” Job 12:7-9
Scripture often reminds us of the power of creation in our lives
and inspires us to see through a new lens, or another different perspective.
One summer I shared some inspiration I found after some investigation regarding
the unique characteristics of birds as a family devotional. Here’s an example.
“Bird
Struck! Woodpecker
Family
Devotional
“Thank
you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how
well I know it” Psalm 139:14.
Although
they differ in length, all woodpeckers have a straight chisel-like
self-sharpening bill and straight stiff tail feathers, which help them to lean
against tree trunks.
They
are like living electric drills similar to the jackhammers workers use to break
up sidewalks for repair. The woodpecker can pound up to twenty some blows a
second on a tree. That’s a lot of hard battering.
At
the back of their lower jaw is a muscular pad that acts as a shock absorber.
They are specially designed for the work they do.
Not
only do they drill into branches and trees to eat insects and grubs, but the
holes they excavate often become nests for other smaller birds such as
nuthatches, wrens, and elf owls.
Jesus
tells us that God knows when each sparrow falls and how many hairs are on his
head. We are each unique to Him—a one-of-a-kind design that has specific
abilities for special tasks.
Sometimes
He has a very special job He asks us to do. If another bird tried to imitate
the woodpecker, he would be badly hurt without the shock absorber. So it’s
important not to imitate other people but be our unique selves.
When
we follow Jesus, He Himself protects us and becomes our shock absorber. Then we
can freely live our lives in His protection doing the work he asks us to do.
Action
What are some special things you know how to
do? How can you help someone else with your abilities?”
What
have you been reading, or seeing, recently in nature in your investigations that
inspires you to see through a new lens and a fresh perspective whether land or
sea or sky or animals. What insight have you discovered to share and how do you
want to share it?
Action
Steps:
1. Take a walk in
a familiar setting such as a walk around a few blocks or a nearby park, or a
trail you jog or walk whenever possible.
2. Deliberately choose
a characteristic to look for or listen for: foliage, or animal, or wind and
concentrate on that specific detail.
3. What do you
notice that you have not noticed before?
Share: What is your
fresh insight that inspires you?
Read deep, marcy
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