Praying with the Wren

There is a line in Mary Oliver’s “The Wren from Carolina,” that speaks of the, “wren in the hedge, above me, with his blazing song.”

I don’t get to sit outside every morning, but every morning that I do, I am serenaded by two distinct songs…the song of the Cardinal and the song of the Wren.  The Wren has become my favorite.

Months ago, I was sitting in my chair outside, I had finished reading my Bible, and I was beginning to pray, when two Wrens flew in and landed on another chair in front of me.  One of them spread out his wings and made some sound that was almost a raspy growl, but the other reared back and sang with every ounce of his being.

The other morning, I sat and listened to two different Wrens…one in each of my neighbor’s yards on either side of mine…one sang and the other sang back…it was a simple joy to enjoy the concert, and it continued longer than I had time to listen.

Some have estimated the Wren sings up to 3,000 times a day…it is what Kevin Burrell calls relentless.  Here is the question…if the Wren can sing some 3,000 times a day with every fiber of his .75 ounces…how much more should I sing?  How much more should I lift up my praise and thank God for all that He has done?

Prayer isn’t just the speaking of words…it is also the singing of them.  I find myself singing throughout the day and those songs are my praise to the One who does all things well.  Of course, could also use my voice as the other Wren did and grump…but I don’t think I can ever grump my way to praise!!