“Birding puts me back in that place of expectation, that place of hopefulness, that place of watching and waiting.” - Courtney Ellis

So, what is birding, and what in the world does it have to do with hope? How could it possibly intersect with our experience of grief?

Today’s conversation with author and pastor Courtney Ellis will invite you into a world that is happening all around you, but you may have never noticed. Courtney shares how birding—or bird-watching for the newbies like me—is more than mere observation; it’s a deliberate act of attentiveness and presence. It awakens us to God’s good work in creation and allows us to settle into His care for us.

In the episode, Courtney explains how birding became a spiritual practice for her, especially during the heightened isolation of the pandemic and the wake of her grandfather’s death. Her story is one of hope and grief and delight with a side of practical application. This one might be the unicorn episode for those of you who need something to do with all your thinking…you know who you are.

Courtney Ellis is author, speaker, pastor, and host of “The Thing With Feathers Podcast.” She’s also a birder, encourager, and inspiration-giver based in Orange County, California where she lives with her husband (also a pastor!) and three children. Together they serve Presbyterian Church of the Master.

Courtney’s speaking credentials include Wheaton College, MomCo, faith-based retreats, women’s retreats, birding festivals, and dozens of churches, from mainline to evangelical. She holds a Master’s degree in English literature from Loyola University and a Master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and her seven books have been published with Tyndale House, IVP, and Broadleaf.

In this episode, we chat mostly about her book Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope Through Grief. It’s lovely and available to read right now.

Connect with Courtney in all the ways you might connect with someone online:

* Substack

* Instagram

* Her Website

* Her podcast - The Thing with Feathers

And don’t forget to check out her book Looking Up: A Birder’s Guide to Hope through Grief. Oh and the Merlin app for your birding adventures!

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more resources that will help you step into the liturgical new year. Christ the King Sunday and Advent are just around the corner and I can’t wait for you to hear from two guests who will brighten your imagination for how to engage with the new season!

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