A house that birds love!

Strange one isn't it?

This simple blog has been on my mind for a couple weeks. Spiritual? I don't know if it is or not. I believe that God is everywhere and is a part of our life in aspects that we either are not aware of or hope He is not involved in.

Here goes! We have a fairly large yard by Japanese standards. We are renting this house from a Japanese friend we have known for over 40 years. The rent is way below the norm. PTL! We had some very large trees that were too big for this size lot and got permission to have them removed leaving a few smaller trees. Outside our back kitchen door there is a tree that has "biwa" or miniature oranges. You can eat them right off the tree even though they have small seeds.

The birds that visit our yard love that fruit. Outside our front door is a sidewalk that has takes a 90 degree turn around a miniature Maple Tree. The birds meet every morning in the branches of that 4 meter high tree. I don't understand bird language, but it seems that they have some rather deep conversations there. Some sound like arguments. While holding discussions in the tree the need arises to use the bathroom. Well, there they are right over my clean sidewalk using the restroom. So daily I have the privilege of cleaning up after our fine feathered guests.

At first, I was a little put out over this inconvenience then the thought occurred that our house was a place that birds love to visit. Our trees are too small for them to build nests in now, but they stop by every morning for breakfast and have a chat with others (kind of like McDonalds). As I meditated on this small matter. Wait! Small matter? In the New Testament Jesus in Matt 10:29-31 and Luke 12:6-7 lets us know that small sparrows matter to God and that He keeps track of them. How much more will our Heavenly Father look after His children?

I thought of some outreach activities that we have conducted here. One child visiting for the first time commented to his mother, "kaeri taku nai"! Which means I don't want to go back home. On another occasion an American family visited us with two young boys. Before leaving the older one said to his mother, "This home is like Heaven"! Wow! It is good to know that God has given us a place to live and to invite others, human and animal that they feel welcome and at ease.

Lastly an older Christian lady spent some days in our home while we were away. Later commented that our home was a "Holy Spirit Rest Center". I liked that one too. Many we know will never have the chance to visit us here in Japan, but I would like to think of the web sites, blogs, You Tube, Face Book and My Space as visits with us. I hope you feel at home with us. We would love to hear from you too. One way conversations get pretty tiring and lonely.

How about your home? Are birds, cats, children and the elderly welcome there? I hope so! It is not us, but Christ who lives in us that causes others to want to be with us.

Thanks for stopping by for a few minutes. I seem to be writing and blogging again after a time of rest. Check back again soon!

God bless you richly!

Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"