Coat of Many Colors

SL, Richmond Zoo

Coat of Many Colors

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it;

for He founded it upon the seas,

and established it upon the waters.

Psalm 24:1-2

If there is the equivalent to a "coat of many colors" in the animal kingdom, my vote is for the male Golden Pheasant, scientifically known as Chrysolophus pictus.  Yellow and gold, blue and turquoise, red and orange, chestnut and brown, black and white - this pheasant has it all and in such a brilliant display.  Native to the mountains of western China, the tail of this bird accounts for about two-thirds of its overall length.  While they can fly short distances, they prefer to run.  I can attest to the fact that they are very difficult to photograph, because they rarely stand still for more than a few seconds.

Every time I see a beautiful creature like the Golden Pheasant, I am reminded of the creative love of our Heavenly Father.  He could have made everything on this earth black and white, or brown and gray.  Instead, he dipped and re-dipped His paint brush into an endless palate of beautiful colors and created a world shimmering in light and beauty.

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All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings.

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.

The purple-headed mountains, the river running by,

The sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky.

The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 147

SL, Richmond Zoo