Nightingale

Common Nightingales are named so because they frequently sing at night as well as during the day. The name has been used for well over 1,000 years, being highly recognizable even in its Anglo-Saxon form – 'nightingale'. It means 'night songstress'. Early writers assumed the female sang when it is in fact the male. The song is loud, with an impressive range of whistles, trills and gurgles. Its song is particularly noticeable at night because few other birds are singing. This is why its name includes "night" in several languages. Singing at dawn, during the hour before sunrise,nightingales sing even more loudly in urban or near-urban environments, in order to overcome the background noise. The most characteristic feature of the song is a loud whistling crescendo.

This is a part of the definition of nightingale from a wikipedia entry. There are several things in it that are interesting. Not many birds sing at night. I am sure the other birds in the woods think He's a little strange, but he sings anyway. We usually associate singing birds with the start of a happy new day. But this bird sings an hour before sunrise as well. What does he know that the other birds don't? Does he have a more complete faith that a new day is coming, so much so that he sings before it even arrives? Does he sing because he is afraid of the dark or does he sing in order to show that he does not fear the darkness and has faith in the coming dawn?

The description also says that he sings louder to overcome the noise of the city in urban areas. It seems he wants to share his song of faith in the coming day and believes it is the most important thing we need to hear, so he is trying to make sure we hear it. He makes a distinctive whistling crescendo to praise the coming day.

I may have personified this bird a little too much in that paragraph, but I have seen people who do just that. When they are going through darkness, maybe even a darkness that does not demonstrate that dawn could be on the way, they use that opportunity to remind us that there is a dawn. A new day. A promise that is faithfully fulfilled. Their faith is in the new dawn no matter their own circumstances. Sometimes the dawn comes and the bird is given a new chance to sing in the valley where it has lived it's life with family and friends. Sometimes the dawn comes and the bird awakes to an amazing new valley beyond his wildest dreams. Either way, the nightingale has reason to sing. It does not fear the darkness, but has a hope in the promise that a new day awaits.

I believe that God has designed us to face the darkness. When we dedicate ourselves to live our lives for Him, he gives us the promise of a new dawn. So, whatever the extent of your dark valley, give your life to be lived for Jesus. It is only then that you will be guided through the darkness to the promise of a new dawn in spite of your earthly circumstances. It is then that you can sing in the darkness. It is then that you can know that the dawn will come and God will prevail.

This song, written by Art n Von from the Christian Songwriters Network has not been released to a national audience, but I have loved it for several years. It has often brought me to tears and as I am again praying for people facing darkness, it speaks to me.

Read the words below, but you must also listen to it. It is beautiful. Follow the link and click on "Nightigale."

Listen to song "Nightingale"

Author: words: D.Rempel Y.Bach Music Y.Bach A. Elswick
Nightingale

Verse one
This is your valley
Of deep night
It seems it's empty
Of hope and light.
This is your season
To stumble there
Between your sorrow
And your despair.

Chorus
Yet you sing,
Oh, nightingale,
That dawn will come,
God will prevail.
Your strength is gone
Your vision fails,
Yet you sing,
Dear nightingale.

Verse two
This is your witness –
Your faithful voice,
Rising in worship
Above the noise
This is your music,
Your song of praise
piercing the darkness
With Hope and faith.

Bridge:
You sing as tears fall from your face
Steeped in pain, bathed in grace
Sing like there is no tomorrow,
Sing You Sing Through your sorrow

Disciple

Recently, several friends of mine have undertaken a challenge to share with someone a walk through a book called Multiply by Francis Chan.  It is not just a book, it is a project designed to encourage people to talk and walk their spiritual life together, learning from the Bible and each other's life experience.  Although we already do that through our church fellowship, this is a one-to-one mentorship where we can talk about specific areas of life and growth as a Christian.  I have begun to realize that there are already many people around me who God has placed there to teach me while I teach them.  These include my children, friends, former students, kids from camp, etc.  I would encourage Christians to try to place more emphasis on this aspect of our lives.  God created us to interact with each other.  In today's world, however, we are kept so busy that this interaction is no longer a normal occurrence.

     I have a set time on Saturday mornings that I reserve to talk to my brothers in Christ.  We do not normally do a Bible study or anything like that, nor do we always talk about silly stuff. (We do some of both however)  But mostly we talk about our spiritual lives as it relates to our roles as fathers, husbands, friends, and Christians.  God speaks to me through these guys.

     I have learned that I also have to schedule a time to talk to people that I want to have an impact on.  Thursday nights at 6:45 I meet with a friend who is walking through this book with me.  Saturday at 8:30ish I can usually expect a call from a former camp student who wants guidance about living life as a young Christian in a tough situation.  Although I can speak to these people through casual meetings, it is unlikely in today's world if we really want to make an impact in a certain direction.

Jesus wanted to impact a group of people for a period of time.  He told them to spend time with him.  He told them to "Follow Me."  Let's walk through life together for a short time.  You will get to see how the Father in Heaven wants us to live in the details of earthly life.  We can get the same impact by walking with others and learning from them.

We are called to be a disciple and to be disciple makers.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20

www.multiplymovement.com