Why I Like Roosters

It was early on a Sunday morning. I was sitting in my living room as the sun was coming up thinking and praying (I wish I could say “watching and praying,” as that sounds so much more biblical, but it is what it is). Outside my window, I could hear the rooster in our back yard welcoming the dawn. Yes, we have a small flock, which includes a rooster or two.

I like roosters, although most people don’t. There are lots of reasons not to like them. They can be aggressive; we had one that would attack your leg if you got too close. They are messy, noisy, and generally unproductive. You can only eat them once, but hens lay lots of eggs. But I still like them.

Roosters are mostly known for crowing at dawn, but anyone who has ever had a rooster knows they just start at dawn, and generally crow all day. They stop when the sun goes down, which is a blessing.

As I listened to my rooster, I thought of Jesus’ comments in the Gospel of John. John really likes the juxtaposition of light and darkness. In Chapter 3, Jesus says, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” I think what I like about roosters is that they are heralds of the light.

There are many stories, from Chaucer to Wangerin, that characterize roosters as being so full of themselves that they actually think their crowing brings the sun up from beneath the earth. Based on some roosters I have known, I have no doubt of their own self-importance.

But, of course, no matter what the conceited rooster might think, it does NOT bring up the sun. What it DOES do is remind us that the sun is on the way; darkness will be dispelled, and light is coming. That’s why I like roosters; they are the John the Baptists of the animal world. They tell us the sun is on its way. I think that is also why they make such a good Christian symbol; they are heralds of the light, which we should be, on our best days.

You may not choose to have a rooster in your back yard, but since chickens are the most numerous domesticated animal on the planet, you may be able to hear one, even in the city or the suburbs, at the break of day. If you do, think of the coming of the light into the world. It comes to dispel the darkness, literally and figuratively. Behold, the light has come, and the darkness could not overcome it. Rejoice in the rising of the sun!

Burn, Baby, Burn

Some of you may have seen or heard the NPR item about the church in Florida that plans to burn Qu'rans on September 11. It is very sad. The NPR articles are available here: Fla. Minister: Sept. 11 Quran Burn Still Planned

The Church is a small church in Gainsville, FL, and they have received national and international attention. None of it good, I would say. (There were riots in Indonesia)

I thought about how to respond. I could shake my head and sigh, write a letter of protest that would probably be dismissed, or express my thoughts in as constructive a way as I could. That is what I have chosen. I made the following response on the church's "Ten Reasons To Burn A Koran (sic)" blog. Maybe someone will read it. I will also reprint it here for your consideration. God bless and help us all.


Burning the Quran
A response to http://www.doveworld.org/blog/ten-reasons-to-burn-a-koran

I was very saddened to hear of your church’s plan to burn the Qu’ran on Sept 11. Its not because I believe what it says, nor because I support Islam. I do not; I am a Christian, a pastor in Texas. The reason I am saddened is because by your actions and testimony, you deny the Christian gospel message of love and peace and add fuel to the fires of hatred. You have left the way of Christ, and followed the way of jihad, the holy war. You are becoming that which you profess to hate.

Jesus said, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” (Luke 6:27) And “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44). Christ’s message is clear. It is the way of love.

I implore you not to follow the way of hate, which is not the way of Christ, but to follow instead the way of love, which he lived and taught.

In my community, the local mosque is sponsoring a prayer vigil, open to the community, on Sept 11 to bring people of all faiths together to pray for peace and for the families of those killed 9 years ago. That seems to me to be a much better, more Christ-like way to remember and mourn. How ironic that Christians are acting like jihadists and Muslims are acting like Christians. God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.