I checked on Rosie (for the three thousandth time) after lunch – and spied one beautiful, perfect, fluffy chick in the nest. My heart skipped a beat and joy overflowed! Yay Rosie! As I was focusing my camera on the new baby, a tiny wet head popped up from under mama’s breast feathers. TWO! Two chicks born today! If I could do cartwheels without breaking or pulling anything – that’s what I would have done next! I settled for a verbal “yahoo” and a prayer of thanks!
Rosie’s story isn’t unlike mine and yours, except Rosie is a chicken (a “Rosecomb” chicken). So make this stretch with me… Rosie came to Shepherd’s Gate Farm with her partner, Roo. Roo (You guessed it, is a rooster). I’m good with names.
These two were a pair – until I free ranged them. Then Roo dumped Rosie for the bigger, fatter, featherier Golden Laced Cochin hens. Roo runs with the three big girls while Rosie hangs with the goats, but mostly by herself.
I think Rosie is lonely. As nice as the goats are, they are not bantam chickens. Rosie, I believe, desperately wants her own flock to hang out with, a place to belong, a faithful friend. This is where I see our stories (Rosie’s and ours) coincide.
We all need our own flock, herd, tribe, whatever you want to call it. We desire a sense of BELONGING so that we can experience the joy of BECOMING. We want to fit in, to relate, to matter – to someone…so that we can then pursue a sense of becoming (something bigger than ourselves, something that matters to the world, something that means something more than nothing) within a loving and supportive community.
Can you BE that for someone? Do you NEED that from someone? A sense of belonging. A tribe. A safe place to be yourself and also to grow into your potential. Be careful with that. Surround yourself with people who will love you unconditionally, warts and all! Associate with a group who recognizes that they need grace and forgiveness and are able to offer it freely. Choose friends who desire to know Jesus and walk with Him daily – so that you are challenged to do the same. A sense of belonging is a basic need. Choose wisely to whom you belong.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 25:15
“Oil and perfume make a heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” Proverbs 27:9
