Greenfinches of Martin Top

It was our pleasure last Sunday morning to hear a greenfinch sitting in one of the trees opposite our chapel. Although not a classic song bird, its sound is pleasant and distinctive. Their numbers declined from the 1970s, but rose again in the 1990s, only to fall again; the population is only 37% of what it was in 1993. The RSPB attributes this to trichomonosis, which may be partly caused by unclean bird feeders. As any chef or householder will know, serving good food is not enough; it needs to be prepared and cooked in a clean environment. It would be better to eat a McDonald’s Happy Meal than a roast dinner prepared on dirty surfaces by unwashed hands coated by all manner of harmful bacteria.

Preaching God’s truth is important, but those who venture into pulpits must have godly lifestyles and clean lives. I pray to God mine might be more so.

Image by Santa from Pixabay