Bird feeders

Ah, the perfect cartoon sunrise with chirping birds and happy music in the background.  Songbirds in the spring are such a wonder to behold.  Robins, doves, chickadees, bluebirds all sing along happily and then a jay or mockingbird swoops through with his cacophanous call.  Stillness prevails for a few moments, then the sweet melody resumes. 
Do you have a birdfeeder still?
In our small group study, Emily Smith remarked that she continues to fill the bird feeder even now in this season of plenty just so she can see the birds and hear them outside her window.  As she spoke of this small extravagance, I was reminded of how much more our Heavenly Father lavishes on us.  I don't mean a prosperity gospel, but gosh we sure are a blessed people!  Why does He do it, even when we don't deserve all these blessings?  He desires to hear us sing!  Just like Emily with the birds, He desires us to draw near to Him and sing for joy (Psalm 100).
Look outside, all you people in the northern hemisphere.  See all that glorious spring variety?  God is a a god of creativity and beauty, creating an intricate world just to enjoy.  While these things are functional, I surely wouldn't call this extravagance a strictly utilitarian system.  Evolutionists may say there is redudency in pants and animals to ensure survival and a continual food source, but I counter that if it is strictly utilitarian, why is there so much variety? Why would there be so much extra, unexpressed DNA that evolved and remained?  My answer? God is a great artist.  He put in lots of extra details so that over time, the fulness of His creation would be expressed.  It is rather like a sculpture that developed a beautiful patina as it ages--it isn't exactly how the artist made it at first, but he knew that it would change and mature into an enduring work of art.  I mean, can you imagine a gleaming and shiny Thinker? Rodin understood how the bronze would change after casting and make the exquisite form into a subtler, individual piece.  The 20+ castings of this all look a little different depending on their atmosphere.  Wow, just think, a sculpture out of a single alloy can change and look vastly different from the same mold and same materials in just over 100 years. What then can we expect from God's creation with so many complex materials--look around!  We can see the vast imagination of God and know that we are made in His image.  We look at the art of the Masters or on our own refrigerators and see remarkable creative expression and know it is only a foretaste of what God has in store!
Why are there 20 different species of birds at Emily's feeder? It is a beautiful sound to hear so many different songs intertwined.  More in a few days about this!