I came across a beautiful article the other day. It is about healing. There has been a study that has determined that bird songs are good for us. They help heal our body and soul. In the words of the article; “Research has consistently shown that more contact and interaction with nature are associated with better body and brain health.”
The online version of the article included embedded links to recordings of birdsongs, a meadowlark, a bobolink, a sandhill crane.
Here’s another excerpt from the article;
Birds help us feel more connected with nature and its health effects, Stobbe said, and the more connected we are to nature, the more we can benefit from those effects.
One hypothesis on nature’s salubrious effects, known as the attention restoration theory, posits that being in nature is good for improving concentration and decreasing the mental fatigue associated with living in stressful urban environments. Natural stimuli, such as birdsong, may allow us to engage in “soft fascination,” which holds our attention but also allows it to replenish.”
In regards to the theology of healing in Christian faith, this article can act as a reminder that often the view of healing in faith circles is quite anemic. As theologian John Swinton has described, some views of healing present the idea that healing means an absence of something. In this view, healing is absence of cancer or absence of some physical condition or mental health struggle. Swinton points towards an understanding of healing that has more to do with an expansive peace, referred to in some contexts as shalom. Swinton says that he has seen this shalom in people who are physically ill or even on their deathbed while, at times, he has seen its absence in someone who does not suffer from an identifiable physical or mental illness.
What do the birdsongs do for us? They move us towards peace. I have been astounded at the songs of birds, even in my suburban backyard. They are ridiculous occasionally, seemingly playful, sometimes urgent. I know what the article is pointing towards, those birds are agents of healing.
May you know a healing beyond simply the absence of something. May you know peace, even if a simply birdsong gives you just a glimpse.
I read that article and loved it! We have so many birds here. There is a free app for your phone called Merlin. You can use it to identify birds by their songs. One time I logged seven different birds in our yard at the same time. I couldn't see them due to their being in the trees, but I sure could hear them. Yes, their songs are healing indeed.