Bird Waking

Sunday, June 27, 2010

In his book The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale told of a successful businessman who was always in a rush. Each morning he jumped out of bed and hit the ground running. He was in such a hurry to get the day started that he made soft-boiled eggs “because they slid down fast.” Then one morning as he looked outside his window, he noticed a bird waking from his night’s sleep. The bird slept with his head under his wing and his feathers pulled around his little body. As he awoke, he pulled his bill from under his feathers and stretched one leg. Next he wrapped his wing like a fan over the leg. Then he repeated the process with the other leg. Resting a bit more, he laid his head on his feathers for a quick nap and then poked out his head again. This time the bird threw his head back, stretched his wings and legs and sent up a thrilling, melodic song of praise to the day. After hopping down from the limb, he dunked his beak in the bird bath and then started looking for breakfast. The high-strung, tense businessman said to himself, “If that’s the way the birds get up, sort of slow and easy like, why wouldn’t it be a good method for me to start the day that way?”

What can we learn from our fair feathered friend about starting our day?

He woke up slowly.
He stretched.
He paused for a meditation.
He sang a song of praise.
He refreshed himself with water.
He went in search of food.

“This is the day that the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Let’s remember to wake up slowly with a time for meditation and praise to our creator.