The Parable of the Bird and the Cow Plop
/I thought my readers might enjoy this “Rylism” that I shared with my staff recently.
All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. (Mat 13:34)
There was a bird that lived in Canada. One winter he announced to the other birds, "I'm not flying south for the winter. I'm staying right here!" All the other birds said he was crazy, but he answered, "You're the ones that are crazy. You'll get down south, turn around and fly right back up here again next year. What's the point?!”
The other birds took to flight and left him behind.
Wondering what winter in Canada would be like, the lone bird was pleasantly surprised at the stretch of Indian Summer that lingered long into the fall. "Aha!" he said to himself, "I was right to stay. This is wonderful!”
But then, winter hit full force in the middle of December. Shuddering in the cold the silly bird finally realized, "I must hurry and leave before I freeze to death!”
He took to flight and made it as far as Montana. There, in mid-air, he froze up and tumbled to the ground; landing in a farmer's barnyard. "Oh, what a stupid bird I am," he moaned to himself. "I should've flown south with all the other birds, but now I am about to die.”
Just then a cow in the barnyard strolled past the fallen bird and without realizing it dropped a big cow-plop right on top of him! "Oh, this is just great," mumbled the buried bird. "It's not bad enough that I'm about to die; now I'm covered with cow manure!”
But then he noticed something he had not expected. The warmth of the plop actually began to thaw him out and restore him to life. "Why, what do you know about that?" said the bird. "This ain't so bad after all!" Then he began chirping and singing under the pile of cow plop.
Meanwhile, the barnyard cat was passing by and heard the sound of singing coming from the pile. Curious as a cat can be, he pawed around in the pile and uncovered the thawed bird. Their eyes met, there was a silent moment of suspense, and then the cat ate the bird. (Rylism)
The Moral of the Story
· First, not everyone who dumps on you is your enemy.
· Second, not everyone who cleans it off is your friend.
· Third, when you get dumped on, it is best to keep your mouth shut.
· Fourth, fly south for the winter! In other words, do that which God has created you to do; fulfill his purposes in your life. Obedience to what God has called you to do can keep you out from under the pile.
You are what you are by God’s design and grace. Praise, gratitude, and faithfulness are the proper responses. Pride in one’s gifts/abilities, covetousness of the gifts/abilities of others, or disappointment in one’s gifts/abilities are not proper responses to God’s design of you.
Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." (Exo 4:11-12)
See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you. (Exo 31:2-6)
· Fifth, always remember the power of story in your teaching! Jesus, the Master Teacher, constantly employed story/parable in his teaching. Stories are powerful for capturing and holding attention. Stories help students remember the main point of your lesson.
He that hath an ear, let him hear.