Goldfinches

Antidote to grumpiness… Our bird-feeders hang from the apple tree in our back garden. They’re frequently my source of therapy – for musing on my mistakes, problems and grumpiness.

There are the bigger birds – jays, magpies, crows that are bullies, blackbirds that are always cheerful, woodpeckers that peck wood – and peanuts, The squirrel family has its place in the pecking order.

Local cats and the occasional sparrow hawk are attracted by the host of smaller birds – robins, greenfinches, sparrows, dunnocks, blue-tits… and goldfinches.

They bring their families, get on with their business, never appear grumpy… and they don’t know how beautiful they are.

Acceptance of greyness… I’m stillenjoying reading Patch Adams. He says that most of us live in a grey area between health and sickness – not sick, but not entirely healthy.

‘How are you?’ ‘I’m fine’ I smile. ‘Fine?’ ‘Really?’

Some of us have physical issues – aches and pains, bits of us that don’t work properly or are wearing out; some have mental complaints – stress or depression, autistic tendencies, addictions, fears; some have spiritual problems – moral failures, distorted values, bad habits…

Life’s complex, messy and grey.

The goldfinch’s simple life cuts through all that. It’s always beautiful, always cheerful, always perfect.

Ambitious gratitude… I’ve mentioned before…at the end of each day I write down 5 things I’m grateful for. It’s a good habit, a good focus, an attitude of gratitude.

Sometimes I feel I’m scraping the barrel; other days I’m not sure how grateful I really am.I don’t really care.I’m more anxious or critical than grateful.

Musing on Jesus’s words… ‘Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?’

He could have been talking about goldfinches…

Bird-feeder therapy works. Life is simpler. I’m less grumpy and grey… and more grateful to my Father-God.