The Birds Our Teachers

“Many Christians have a good doctrine of redemption, but need a better doctrine of creation,” writes John Stott at the start of The Birds Our Teachers. Because God reveals himself in his works, and because he delights in creation, Stott urges Christians to study “at least one branch of natural history” as an avenue of knowledge about God.

Seeing as I just paused in my writing of this to snap pictures of two flickers jabbing at ants in my back yard, it’s plain enough that I share Stott’s chosen branch — or should I say, wing — of natural history: birds. Many times my reflection on the beauty and uniqueness of these diverse creatures has led me to consider aspects of my faith, but in this slim book John Stott gives us the gift of an extended, biblically based exploration of what he jokingly calls “orni-theology.”

Interspersed with photos from a lifetime of bird watching, and supplemented by a dvd in which he describes a trip to the Falkland Islands, Stott’s book is a delight. Each chapter focuses on the habits of a particular species as an illustration of a spiritual principle. One of my favorites was “The Migration of Storks: Repentance.” He writes,

Would that we had as strong a homing instinct spiritually as birds have physically! The more we come to recognize that God is the true home of the human spirit, and that we are waifs and strays without him, the more quickly and painfully will we become aware of even the smallest estrangement from him, and the more eagerly will we return to him. For when we come back, we have come home.

After the clarity of a passage like that, it will come as no surprise to hear that I read some chapters of this book to my daughters. Avid bird watchers themselves, they loved the natural details, and we all added to our knowledge of birds. But equally compelling are some of these unforgettable illustrations.

This was a birthday gift from my husband. It makes a great gift for the birders in your life, but it also educates the eye of the heart. In that respect it has broad appeal to all who want to learn to read the book of creation.