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Viewpoint from Jane Walters 14/03/2025
 Jane Walters
Author, broadcaster, Chair of the Association of Christian Writers and member of Christ Community Church, Attleborough
I’ve had today’s date in my diary for a little while now. True, it’s someone’s significant birthday, plus I have an event to go to in the afternoon, but those are not the only things I’ve pencilled in. I’ve also written: CHIFF-CHAFF?! in capitals
You see, according to my bird-watching, fount-of-all-ornithological-knowledge husband, this could be the day that heralds the first return of the migrating birds. When we discussed this over breakfast recently, he was explaining the importance of the weather, not just of the 14th itself, but of the days leading up to it. A northerly wind would pretty much guarantee its non-appearance, whilst a southerly, well, we’d be in with a chance. Only time would tell…
 Being a Christian is all about ‘faith, not sight’ – the Bible literally says as much. This thing we call ‘faith’ isn’t something we can easily grasp, never mind feel with our physical senses. We worship, serve and follow a God we cannot see. It doesn’t make faith easy, I’ll admit
Never mind the chiff-chaffs, I failed to hear a cuckoo at all last year, but didn’t conclude that they didn’t exist. Actually, it was as simple as getting the timing wrong, and not paying enough attention. Those birds were all doing what they were supposed to; I just missed it, that’s all
My contention as a Christian is that God is also doing ‘His thing’. Having created the world, He’s busy sustaining it (the Bible says that, too) and – of prime importance – loving His people. The trouble is that so many of us miss it. Perhaps God doesn’t present Himself as we expect. Perhaps we’re too distracted or inattentive to notice the clues
But it’s not the same as saying that there’s nothing to see. I remember in startlingly clear detail watching a friend being healed of her ‘clicky hips’: the way the fabric of her skirt started rippling as the visiting speaker prayed for her; the amazement on her face – and everyone else’s – as she walked in a straight line for the first time
I remember, too, the day my pupil arrived for her music lesson, walking confidently into the house because… wait for it… she had been healed of blindness the week before. Yes! A completely undeniable miracle
I may or may not hear the right birds this spring; but I’ll be seeing evidence of God’s handiwork everywhere I look
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