COCK A DOODLE DO

A recent email and group post from The Hood inquired if anyone had lost these-



Yes, we have chickens here in the middle of the city.  One of the neighbors on the street behind me has a flock.  There are rules about keeping chickens in the city including you can only have one rooster.  More than one rooster can lead to gang violence--of the chicken persuasion.  If you have ever lived near chickens there is no need to explain why.




Did you know roosters crow according to seniority?  So the oldest goes first---and we thought they were bird brains!  Once the world begins to loose its covering of dark, Mother Nature's alarm clocks begin to go off.  I suppose it is a lot like the train which blows his whistle near me around 6 AM EVERY morning--after a while you do not even notice and can sleep right through the hubbub.



Have you seen the roosters on top of wind vanes high on the roof of homes or barns?   The legend is this is a reminder of Peter denying Christ three times before the cock crowed.  I came across this little tidbit while reading Gilead.

The rooster or cock is a significant symbol of watchfulness--being awake and vigilant.  On our toes---playing our A game---on alert and ready.  I must admit many days I am not even aware the cock is in the neighborhood much less that he might have crowed.   For I have a tendency to be asleep at the wheel---drifting through life on auto pilot.  How many opportunities have I missed and never had a clue they had presented themselves because I was distracted by the mundane?  

Having walked away, many a time, and known I had missed or blown the opportunity, it makes me shudder to think how many chances I have completely missed while in a sleepwalking like trance going through the day.   The cock is effectively crowing and I am effectively denying by missing opportunities to share the truth.  Sadly my denials have far exceeded three.

Denial is not always the overt proclamation of not knowing Christ, it can also be the missed opportunity of proclaiming Him.  It can be the stark silence when opportunity has knocked and we refused to open the door.  The unintended but effective denouncing of our Savior by missing the opportunity to proclaim His Lordship in our lives. Those times when our example is anything but being a Believer, and pointing instead to the world.  

We all know the cock is going to crow, and have some idea of an approximate time.  BUT there are indiscriminate-unplanned crowing going on at random times during the day.  It is a great metaphor for life--we have no idea when it will end--even though we think we can count on old age.  It is best to be prepared for that crowing at all times--be on our toes and vigilant.  We never know when that cock may decide to crow.  When it does crow---will we have been vigilant of sharing the gospel message or will we be like Peter--hanging our head in shame?


Jesus told him, "I tell you with certainty, before a rooster crows this very night, you will deny me three times."
Matthew 26:34


5 comments

  1. Lulu, this is definetly your best post ever. I am envious. I wish I had written it.

    You start with chickens and roosters, then the weather vane and then you remind us how often WE deny Christ by our behaviour. You are brilliant.

    It's true that often, our behaviour is less than Christian and there is very little evidence in our lives of our Christianity. The cock did not crow just for Peter; but for us all.

    You're a great example in this Blog of proclaiming God to all your readers.

    God bless you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And it all began with the missing chicken email, Victor. Amazing what God uses to prompt me to write and how many loose ends will all be used to contribute to the story. Thank you for your compliment---I will keep practicing and someday perhaps those in my Nazareth will read it too.
      Blessings, Friend!

      Delete
  2. Wow, Lulu ... this right here hits home --'Denial is not always the overt proclamation of not knowing Christ, it can also be the missed opportunity of proclaiming Him. It can be the stark silence when opportunity has knocked and we refused to open the door.'

    Words that need to be imprinted on my heart ... and remembered next time I don't use opportunities wisely. Thank you, friend ...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all miss opportunities---more to come on this subject, Linda.
      Blessings, Friend!

      Delete
  3. thank you for your interesting infomation. Fafa855

    ReplyDelete

Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!