I am sitting outside this morning, listening to the bird voices. There is, behind me and to my left, a chorus of songbirds: chirps, trills, whistles…beautiful! To my right I hear the loud “caw” of a crow – overpowering, if I am not careful, the beauty of the chorus.

Around each of us are voices that sound like “caw.” They are loud and brash, and would gain my full attention, if I’m not careful. Some would resort to “shooting the crow.” Unfortunately, if I shoot the crow, the other voices are silenced as well. They may not feel the sting of the shot, but the noise will drive them away. They will sense the danger. Yes, they may eventually return, but along with them will come another crow. And in order to get rid of the next crow, do I repeat the process?

But there is another way.

I can amplify the voices of the songbirds through listening, and by encouraging others to hear them.

I am not a songbird. The sound of my own singing would not add to the chorus, but would simply be another “caw” to distract from the beauty. Can I – will I – choose to be still, to listen, to lead others to hear the sweet song?

I’m pondering today the voices I hear. I’m pondering which sounds are “caws”, distracting me from the beauty God has created. I’m listening for the “songbirds”, longing to hear their encouraging, hope-bringing, chorus. I’m watching myself, that I might not try to join in and inadvertently overpower or distract from the beauty, but instead, I want to lead others to hear the beauty that God has placed in this world around me.