1640 AD
       Ever since he was placed under house arrest for heresy, Galileo eagerly awaited his granddaughter’s weekly visits.  Sasha was due to arrive shortly.

       You see Galileo had dared to challenge a central tenant of the Church and “common sense.”  Most folks at that time believed Earth was the center of the universe – a seemingly logical conclusion as one observed the sky with the naked eye.  And the Bible seemed to verify this notion with passages such as, “the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved.”  Never mind the actual reality that Earth revolves around the Sun in a tiny corner of a vast and wonderful universe.

       Sasha arrived with a warm loaf of bread that they enjoyed with hot tea.  After chatting a bit she begged for the story about the man and the flooded shack. 

       So Galileo began. “The river flooded its banks, and the man’s shack was swept away with him clinging to the roof.  Some neighbors offered to throw him a rope.  ‘No need,’ he replied, ‘God will save me.’  As he passed under a bridge a ladder was lowered down to him, but he didn’t climb on saying, ‘No thanks. God will save me.’  Finally, as the shack was about to go under a boat came by, but he didn’t jump in; trusting God would rescue him.  The shack sunk and he drowned.  At the pearly gates he asked, ‘Lord, why didn’t you save me?’  ‘I sent help three times, but you kept turning it down!’ God retorted.”

       Sasha loved that story because it paralleled her own grandfather’s story.  God offered the man tools for survival, but he turned them down with grave consequences.  Likewise, God offered the people and the Church in Galileo’s time scientific tools like the telescope to reveal the actual reality of Earth’s place in the universe.  But they stubbornly turned down the evidence, clinging instead to their own faulty views.

       As Sasha walked home that evening she wondered about her descendants 200 or even 400 years in the future.  Would they learn from her grandfather’s experience? Or would they too reject the scientific tools from God that would help reveal realities concerning the oceans, the atmosphere, or even the climate?  She hoped they’d wisely use those God-given tools to protect and preserve this vibrant planet, where they’ll be forever…Earthbound.

         The phone lines at Hummer Central were jammed.  Hummingbirds from around the country were wondering about travel conditions for this year’s spring migration.  Travel agent Delia DaScoop was swamped.

         “Hello?  This is Ruby. Yes, that’s right Ruby Throated Hummingbird.  Me and the girls were wondering what we can expect as we make our way to Wisconsin.  As usual, the guys went on ahead.  But you know guys…they never call.  So we hope you can help.”  Ruby told Delia about their journey through Mexico and the 20 hr. hop across the Gulf of Mexico. Now they were in Arkansas and still heading north.

         Delia was happy to report that the gracious folks of Wisconsin had welcomed “the guys” with well-stocked bird feeders.  But then her voice took on a more serious tone.

       “Now I don’t want to alarm you, but you should know that you’ll face some of the same challenging conditions in Wisconsin that you’ve probably noticed all along your journey.  There are fewer breeding and nesting grounds because of urban expansion, resource extraction, and agriculture and logging developments.  And those tiny insects you eat to supplement nectar aren’t quite as plentiful.  Some folks think they can spray pesticides willy-nilly, but that’s making it tougher on you girls.  And speaking of nectar, Wisconsin’s having a late spring, so there should be plenty of blossoms.  But your cousin, Ms. Broad-Tailed Hummingbird reported that the warming climate’s been causing wildflowers in the Rockies to bloom 2-3 weeks earlier than usual.  So now when they arrive the blossoms have already faded taking their nectar with them.  They’re having a tough time finding food.”

        That night with a strong southerly breeze to push them along, Ruby and the girls took flight.  As she flew Ruby thought about hummingbirds and humans.  It’s clear that hummers and all birds need human cooperation if they are to survive.  The Audubon Society is a big help.  It suggests that her human friends talk with others about how the changing climate weakens bird populations.  Finding ways to reduce fossil fuel use and supporting nation-wide plans to lower greenhouse gas emissions are critical.  And Ruby is grateful when humans consider her needs as they design and care for their yards and communities because she has no other place to go.  This is the only home birds will ever know.  They’re forever…Earthbound.