Leaves Falling

A couple of weeks ago, while out for my morning walk, minding my own business and enjoying the crisp air, I was passed on the sidewalk by a Goose, a Duck, a Turkey, and a Chicken. In that order. The Chicken was squawking: “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” I said: “Chicken, how do you know this to be true?” “Well,” replied Chicken, breathing heavily from the strenuous run, “I know because a piece of it fell on my tail.” It was then that I noticed a brown, wrinkled leaf stuck in Chicken’s tail feathers. But Chicken was flapping down the sidewalk before I could remove it. “It’s a leaf,” I called out, but he was off on his mission.

I later heard that Goose, Duck, Turkey, Chicken and a few other fearful fowls stopped by Fox’s den to alert him to the disaster, were invited in for shelter and safety, shown a big room where they could hide, and that the last thing they heard was the lock on the door clicking into place. Devoured by their fear.

Now, here’s a strange thing: Yesterday it was reported on various Social Media outlets that the sky is, indeed, falling. And, of course, it must be true since it came from Social Media sources. I hesitate to add this final observation: I did see two chickens running along Silverbell Road this morning.

Is it true? Is the sky falling? Maybe. I don’t know and you don’t know. If it is, running in a frenzy isn’t going to stop it. When the house is on fire, yelling doesn’t put it out. Strong feelings might result in positive steps, thoughtful responses, but passion should not produce pandemonium. My counsel to the alarmed Chicken: check your sources, refuse to respond in kind, stand instead of cowering, remember who you are and to whom you belong. “Greater is He that is in me than He who is in the world.” We’ve been saying that for a long time in prayers, sermons and hymns of trust. Now we may have to actually live it. “Fear not…” Jesus used to say. Do the right, the good, the just and never accept a dinner invitation at Mr. Fox’s house. Jesus didn’t say that last part, by the way.

(Acknowledgement to Joseph Jacob who is thought to have been the author of Chicken Little)