Chasing Chickens
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)
For a brief time, we raised chickens and I loved each of them dearly. When the foxes became problematic, we gave the flock away. Only a few times did we ever have to chase them because they came when they were called. “Here chick-chick-chick!” It’s kind of like herding cats. Glenda Ferguson (All God’s Creatures) shares a message for us all.
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My husband, Tim, and I had been cooped up all winter in southern Indiana. Spring weather meant the outdoor ice-cream shop was open. We were more than ready to sit at the picnic table and enjoy satisfying sundaes. From past experience, we knew the owner often let her colorful chickens out as entertainment. In the rural area where I grew up, I knew about yellow chicks and white hens, but these Hoosier free-ranging fowl went by the names such as Golden Laced Wyandotte, Brown Leghorn, and Black Barred Plymouth Roack.
As we ate our treats, we observed two children wanting to pet the chickens. No matter how sweetly the youngsters tried calling, the speedsters maneuvered just beyond the reach of their outstretched arms. Chicken feet pivoted quicker than little kid feet could turn.
Tim told them, “That’s no way to catch a chicken. Watch this.” He placed his almost empty bowl of ice cream on the ground. First one, then two more hens flocked to us while we sat quietly. Soon the children calmed down and joined us at the table for close-up views of the peeps.
As we drove away, the children chasing the chickens reminded me of the first time I wanted to spread the good news of God’s love and grace. As a new Christian, my method was reminding my closest friends of the consequences of their poor choices. I pelted them with scriptures about examples of living daily in a godly way. Of course, they were not enticed to know more about my new way of life. I only chased them away with my squawking. Finally, I shared in small portions about what God was doing in my life and attempted to demonstrate what that meant in my daily walk with Him. Soon all of us were flocking toward the sweetness of God’s love and grace.
The way we live is often more convincing than the words we say. —Billy Graham
Heavenly Father, thank You for all the lessons You teach us through Your creatures. Help us to use each as a stepping stone on our journey. AMEN.