Staying Put

Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. -- Jeremiah 8:7 "Even the stork that flies across the sky knows the time of her migration, as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. They all return at the proper time each year."

When cold weather begins to set in, many of us wish that we could, like the birds, “fly south for the winter.” Many birds migrate north and south seasonally, but there are also many that stay put year round. These birds are termed resident birds.

At any time of the year, from the sweltering of summer to the crisp of winter, I can go out to the retention pond behind my office and find our resident Mallard. He was put on the pond with a few others several years ago and, even when his migrating fellows call as they pass overhead, he has been quite content to stay year round. His permanency is most likely due to his regular feedings from employees that visit the pond on breaks.
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A little less conspicuous are the Great Blue Herons. I may not see them every day, but if I go birding consistently, I’m bound to run across one or two each week. I also frequently see them fishing the small ponds that dot the Walton and Oconee County landscapes on my drive to and from work year round. They will continue to return to productive fishing holes and may be reluctant to move on even in the cooler seasons. 

Tall Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias, long legged wading bird, Walton County, Georgia, USA. Long pointed beak for spear fishing.

Birds aren’t the only species to fly the coop. There is a phenomenon in the church world known as “church hopping.” It seems that many Christians don’t feel the need for a long-term commitment to a home church. Instead of focusing on how they themselves can serve and grow a church, they up and leave after a year or so when they deem that “things aren’t happening.”

There are many articles that explore the dangers of church hopping and the usual spiritual decline of those that engage in the practice. The apostle Paul told the Corinthian church members that “God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him.”  I believe this scripture, along with others, supports the notion that God saved us where He wants us, and that is where we should serve  to the best of our ability.  

"But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."
I Corinthians 12:18

I suppose I am out of the norm by remaining in the same church for over 25 years now. Much of that is because of the grace of God in providing a healthy, growing church and a great pastor. But part of my faithfulness to one congregation is a conscious decision to submit to discipleship, headship and stay where God has planted me. But I certainly can’t complain. Because, like the heron and mallard on the pond behind my office, I’m very well fed and haven’t had the need to “migrate” elsewhere. ​​I'm staying put! 

Green head resident mallard male drake duck swimming on a lake in Walton County, Georgia, USA.

Walton County, Georgia
Fair, 47 degrees
​Sunrise Today:7:22 am
Sunset Today: 5:24 pm
Daylight Hours: 10 hours, 2 minutes (-55s)
Moon: 47.3% First Quarter