The Lovely Alarm

You may think my question about the voice of the crow is ridiculous and my whole attitude is selfish and juvenile. And I agree about the attitude. Because when I hear songbirds in the spring I find it very easy to celebrate God’s revelation of himself. But when I hear the raspy, staccato caw of the crow I am not so sure that God is the author.
The cardinal gets your attention with the confident and measured beauty of his call. He is letting the world know that this is the time and the place where new life will begin under his care and defense. The robin sings a happy song that proclaims the release of our world from the cold, dark night of winter. Every day you awaken to his song is a day that promises to be softer and warmer than the day before. In the simple little world that revolves around me and my experience this is how God speaks. These are the messages that he communicates.
My world needs to grow and mature to hear God in the voice of the crow. When I see the big black bird perched atop a denuded tree branch I see a prophet, not a soloist. And when I hear his voice it sounds like an alarm.
So if I believe that God lives and speaks and reveals himself to me in the caw-caw of the crow as well as the lovely notes of the songbirds I accept that all is not well in my world and God knows it. There is an end to the springtime and God wants me to know this. If he is speaking to me I must learn to understand his message and gather the courage to respond.