Tu-whit, Tu-who…Tu-what?

On Saturday, I picked up the paper.
And I learned that I’ve been misled by Shakespeare.
There was an article, in The Times, about owls.

‘It is the tawny Shakespeare refers to in Love’s Labour’s Lost (Winter):

“Then nightly sings the staring owl,/Tu-whit;/Tu-who, a merry note.”’

The article goes on to point out that Shakespeare has ‘set generations astray’.
Tu-whit, Tu-who is not, in fact, the call of a single bird, but of a duet.
The female calls out – Tu-whit – and the male responds – Tu-who.

The answering call comes quickly, doesn’t it?
So quickly it merges to one.
So quickly that many of us, encouraged by Shakespeare, have thought it was one.

And in thinking that, I wonder if we miss some of the beauty.
Apparently, wrapped up in the female call is an “I’m hungry” and the male immediately responds.
Not only calling back, but catching and delivering food to the female.
Personally – Owlally? – delivering the food.

The female does not, as perhaps implied by Shakespeare, call and answer.
“Tu-whit – I’m hungry” “Tu-who – I’d better feed myself”

She calls “I’m hungry” then hears the immediate answering call from the male: “I’ll feed you”.

Do we follow the Shakespeare way sometimes?
I’m hungry, and I’ll feed myself.

Or do we follow the Owl way.
I’m hungry and wait for the immediate answering call from God:
I’ll feed you.

God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19