a council of birds convenes at the tip top of the church's steeple do birds pray? do they look down upon the world of men and sigh, "kyrie eleison"? do they harmonize while they sing their morning hymns? the obstinate heart would say, "of course not!" the obstinate heart would say, "they are only birds after all!" but my heart hopes that the birds pray. and what's more is i hope that they pray for me.