Roosting Chickens

Herod was frightened. In spite of never seeing any accountability or remorse for the many deaths caused by his vicious leadership, finally there’s a glimpse of instinctive and primal fear.

Perhaps you remember hearing “the chickens have come home to roost” said to publicly note that offensive words or actions have finally seen some consequences. Sadly, it often meant an individual or a family were experiencing pain and suffering because of actions from the past. It seems that Herod is a perfect example of this. Finally his outrageous punishment of an innocent man is going to impact both his present and future.

But I wonder. Might we see it somewhat differently? When our chickens come home to roost, might it mean that God is at work in our lives? That we are being given an opportunity to notice what is unhealthy or inappropriate or downright wrong? That we can change and clean things up, things that prevent us from living fully into our call as God’s beloved children called to love and serve the world?

Yes, roosting chickens can be a good and healthy thing in our lives.

O beloved Mother Hen, come and roost in our lives and remind us whose we are, and who and what we have been called to be. Amen. — CJ

Contributed by Roosting Chickens

Herod was frightened. In spite of never seeing any accountability or remorse for the many deaths caused by his vicious leadership, finally there's a glimpse of instinctive and primal fear. Perhaps you remember hearing "the chickens have come home to roost" said to publicly note that offensive words or actions have finally seen some consequences. Sadly, it often meant an individual or a family were experiencing pain and suffering because of actions from the past. It seems that Herod is a perfect example of this. Finally his outrageous punishment of an innocent man is going to impact both his present and future. But I wonder. Might we see it somewhat differently? When our chickens come home to roost, might it mean that God is at work in our lives? That we are being given an opportunity to notice what is unhealthy or inappropriate or downright wrong? That we can change and clean things up, things that prevent us from living fully into our call as God's beloved children called to love and serve the world? Yes, roosting chickens can be a good and healthy thing in our lives.
Eternity for Today