Every spring in my hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska, the return of migratory birds is eagerly anticipated. The Canada geese are always the first to arrive. Their honking, so mournful it borders on funereal when they depart in the fall, is now a jubilant herald to the re-emergence of light and warmth. It’s not long before their exuberant exclamations are joined with the music of other returning birds.
There’s the cheerful song of the robin, the enchanting melody of the Swainson’s thrush, the trill of white-crowned sparrows, and the reedy, prehistoric-sounding call of sandhill cranes. After a long, cold, and quiet winter, the air itself seems to vibrate with life and joy.
I like to imagine the birds are worshiping God. I’ve even written a few little poems suggesting the themes of their songs, such as this one:
The wings of the birds whistle Your name,
They open their beaks in praise,
Flying all day to gladly proclaim
Your goodness and glory and grace.
Perhaps my lyrical fancies aren’t so far-fetched. In multiple places, the Bible refers to nature praising God. When taken to Heaven in the Spirit, the apostle John witnessed “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13).
According to King David, it’s not just animals who praise God, but all of creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). In Psalm 96, another Psalmist commands the earth, the ocean, the fields, and trees to sing: “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth” (Psalm 96:11-13).
What does it mean when the writer tells the earth to rejoice? What does it mean when he says the forest sings for joy? Is this just poetic personification?
Believe it or not, science actually indicates the Psalmists were not simply using artistic license, but that, in fact, all of creation is actually singing. In “The Physics of Heaven” by Judy Franklin and Ellyn Davis, contributing author Dan McCollam discusses the physics of sound. He says: “Everything in the universe has a vibration at the center of it. Nothing in the universe exists without motion or vibration and every vibration makes a sound. Therefore, it can be rightly said that all creation is truly singing.” No wonder nature seems to be celebrating—it is!
YOU: GOD’S CAREFULLY CRAFTED COMPOSITION
Whenever you listen to the birds, ramble through a forest, or marvel at the mountains, perhaps, like me, you can ‘hear’ the songs of praise and adoration for our good Father. You may find it easy to see how nature displays God’s glory.
But what about when you look at yourself? Are you filled with the same wonder and awe? Our culture’s constant provocation to personal discontent and our tendency toward self-criticism can make it hard to recognize, but you too are part of the symphony of creation declaring God’s majesty.
Our culture’s constant provocation to personal discontent and our tendency toward self-criticism can make it hard to recognize, but you too are part of the symphony of creation declaring God’s majesty.
In the same chapter in which Dan McCollam describes the physics of sound and vibrations, he explains that song is woven into the very fabric of humankind. He states, “The formula for your DNA can be converted…into musical notes. In other words, your DNA is an original song!”
YourDNAsong.com, a website run by a company which creates music from people’s DNA, explains it this way: “Regular patterns and sequences of notes exist throughout music, from the pitches of a scale to the rhythms of a song. The same goes for the building blocks of life. Patterns govern the way molecules fit together to construct a DNA molecule or a protein strand. When these patterns are ‘translated’ into the patterns of music, some of them contain very interesting melodies and rhythms.”
SHARING YOUR SONG
All of creation is singing, and that includes you! The way you were made bears witness to God’s glory just as powerfully as the mountains, trees, and streams. In Ephesians 2:10, Paul states that we are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Other versions of the Bible translate the word “workmanship” as “poem” (TPT), “masterpiece” (NTL), and “handiwork” (NIV).
You are God’s masterpiece. You are His song. As a one-of-a-kind work of art, you reflect something about God as only you can. You express your song by simply being. But you can also share your song through the unique passions, gifts, and abilities God has woven into your body, soul, and spirit.
And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Just as the birds sing going about their work—building their nests, hunting for insects, tending their young—so you can express your song in your everyday life.
If He’s put a melody of hospitality in you, you can express your song by sharing a homemade meal with a friend or welcoming a new church member with a warm smile.
If He’s put a melody of art in you, you can share your song by painting or drawing or woodworking.
If He’s put a melody of athletics in you, you can share your song by joyfully running a race or coaching youth soccer.
If He’s put a melody of mentoring in you, you can share your song by encouraging a friend or counseling a younger woman.
What parts of Himself does God want you to reflect? How can you share your song with the world around you? Don’t be shy with your gifts—we need your song to make the symphony complete!
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