Have you ever made a whistle from an acorn cap? I recently found an abundance of acorns beneath an oak tree. When acorns drop from tall trees, the caps and seeds often separate when they hit the ground. I had seen other people make a whistle sound from an acorn cap but had never been successful at replicating the sound. I picked up a few acorn caps and blew. I could occasionally make a sound, but something wasn’t quite right. I huffed and puffed and wore myself out. I went home and watched an online video, and learned that I was blowing more into the cap than across it. When I corrected the direction, the whistle sound was made.
I have created other instruments from nature. I made a flute from an elderberry branch by removing the soft pith inside to hollow it. I put a cork in one end, and drilled holes for my mouth to blow and my fingers to cover and uncover. Using clay and a kiln, I made a clay bird instrument. I have made percussion instruments from shaking dried honey locust pods and rubbing dried catalpa pods. I once purchased a rain stick that was made by someone who pushed in the spines of a dried cactus stem and added tiny beans. With a cap on each end, the beans would fall and make sounds as it bounced off the spines. It is my favorite natural instrument because it really sounds like the rain.
Do you have oak trees around you? Maybe you can look for an acorn cap to make a whistle. If you find one, put your thumbs together and make a V with the first knuckles. Hold the acorn cap with your first fingers and put your mouth on your thumbs. Blow the air through the V and over the top of the cap. If the sound doesn’t come, try again until you can whistle.
Psalm 81:1-2 says, “Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.”
Our creator God made us to be creative. He loves when we sing to him and make music. The timbrel, harp, and lyre that we read about in Psalms were made by creative people using wood from trees and skins and intestines from animals. We were made to worship God and when we make a joyful noise to the Lord, it redirects our thoughts. We replace fear with hope, and discouragement with joy. When your heart is downcast, sing, hum a tune, strum a guitar, or make an instrument from nature. You will find your heart a bit lighter for it!
