When I hear “Joy to World,” I always think of birdsong. It’s the line “and heaven and nature sing” that tips me off. Sure, lots of other kinds of creatures sing — frogs, insects, even fish make sounds that could be thought of as songs. But I’m a bit biased toward birds because my lifestyle more or less revolves around them.
You see, my husband studies birds for a living and specializes in finding and identifying them by their songs. I know this sounds somewhat esoteric, but his research contributes to our understanding of how habitat loss and other environmental woes affect bird populations. And the truth is, he loves listening to birds; he can’t not hear them. (And this is why I can’t listen to soothing nature recordings without headphones; he’s always attuned to any little chirp or tweet.)
Here in western Oregon, there’s not much birdsong during Advent. But one species keeps singing all winter long: Anna’s hummingbirds. Male hummingbirds are known more for their fancy plumage than their voices — for good reason. What passes for singing is a scratchy, tuneless noise. Yet they sing in the dead of winter, often to celebrate one of our rare sunny days.
Earth, Wind & Fire’s jubilant version of “Joy to the World” echoes this rejoicing attitude. Their get-up-and-dance gospel funk reminds us that heaven’s joy isn’t timid; it’s brash, unrestrained, full of life. The kind of joy a hummingbird might understand.
In part, it’s the imagery of the sounds of creation that inspired “Joy to the World” in the first place. Isaac Watts paraphrased Psalm 98, where we are encouraged to “sing to the Lord a new song.” The psalmist exhorts all of creation to join in this hymn of praise and joy in anticipation of Christ’s arrival:
Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
This is what we’re waiting for, not just during Advent, but all the time: Christ’s Second Coming.
What I think the raspy voice of that little hummingbird is trying to tell me is to listen. Unlike my husband, I can easily overlook the sounds of creation. I get so caught up in my own thoughts or so distracted that I am often deaf to nature’s celebration all around me.
Listening is how I encourage my heart to prepare room for him who is coming into the world at Christmastime. Yes, the little baby in the manger, but also the triumphant risen Christ who desires to dwell in me and you and all of us, including hummingbirds, all the time.
Click here to listen to the song. | Click here to find our Advent playlist. | Click here to find more Advent reflections.
