One morning this week, ENan and I were having breakfast on our screened-in back porch, enjoying our coffee and eggs and listening to the chickens next door as they cackled away. Our neighbors occasionally apologize for the chickens, saying they hope they don’t disturb us. We tell them that we love the sound of the chickens. They remind us of our son’s house in Virginia where he and his family have “several many” chickens in the back yard.
Our son’s chickens have become the source of several meaningful family conversations. Not long ago, I had a debate with our 10 year-old granddaughter (an aspiring lawyer) about their chickens being taken advantage of. I argued that the chickens are doing all the work but the girls are receiving money by selling the eggs they produce. She called it a partnership. The mock debate turned into a courtroom scene with ENan acting as judge.
After hearing both prosecution and defense, the judge said she would make her decision based on which one of us did the best chicken dance! I lost.
All that aside, neither our neighbor nor our son has a rooster in their chicken coop. Both have said that roosters are just too noisy and annoying to have around. Some of our friends tell us that chickens are permitted by their HOA but roosters are not for the same reason.
I imagine the Apostle Peter wished there had been no roosters around on the night Jesus was arrested. All four of the gospels tell the same story that, “Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken; ‘Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75)
Conviction can come from the words of a child, the tears of a friend, the whisper of the Holy Spirit or even a rooster. Whenever we come face to face with our own shortcomings, it is heart wrenching. Like Peter, however, our conviction can lead us to confession and forgiveness. God comes to us and tells us, “I love you. You are forgiven.”
Now that is a sweet, sweet sound.
-Dr. Jim Baldwin
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