There Goes the Neighborhood

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block... (1 Corinthians 8:9, English Standard Version)

Most of us get curious when we find that someone new has moved into the neighborhood. What will the new neighbor(s) be like, we wonder?  Will we like them as much as -- or perhaps better than -- the neighbors who've moved?  Will we get along?  When will we finally get to meet them and find this all out?  Yes, new neighbors certainly catch our attention.  I recently heard a story of a new neighbor that caught my attention because the new neighbor was, of all things, a rooster.  That's right: a rooster.  A rooster who caused much consternation and concern in the community where he came home to roost.

The story, which began with apparent good intentions, started when a man saw a rooster's cage fall off a truck in the parking lot of an upscale supermarket that offered farm fresh eggs, straight from the chicken to the customer.  This particular customer felt sorry for the rooster (who had gotten loose but had nowhere to go) and asked the manager if he could take the bird home with him.  The manager said yes, apparently not realizing that home for the man wasn't a farm but a unit in a luxury condominium.  In fact, the man's residence was on the top floor with a balcony and beautiful waterfront view.  A residence, balcony and view that the rooster soon happily shared.

It didn't take the folks in the condominium very long to find out about the new resident in their upscale building.  How long?  Well, it turns out that roosters do indeed crow at sunrise -- but that's just when they start crowing for the day.  And the bird's new roommate was glad to introduce his companion fowl to others in the community.  "This is Rodney!" the man might cheerfully say to someone meeting his feathered friend. After all, a stranger is just a friend you haven't  met yet, right?

Unfortunately for the well-intentioned birdman, the neighbors didn't respond in what you would say was a friendly way.  Reactions of the neighbors ranged from dumbfounded to outraged, with a healthy helping of astonishment and incredulity thrown in, too.  The condo owners association was contacted, but to everyone's amazement there were rules about domesticated pets -- one dog and one cat was a go, two dogs or two cats a no -- but nothing for farm animals.  Absolutely nothing prohibited a goat, a pig or a rooster from living in the building or in any home in the county, as long as the animal was cared for -- even living in an exclusive, high-priced condominium with a lakeside view.

Actually, the lack of prohibition was to the amazement of everyone but the man with the bird, who took the rooster around with him like some people take their dog wherever they go.  Making Rodney more visible, though -- through regular walks and rides in the front seat of his car -- only made matters worse.  The now angry neighbors called the ASPCA, who determined the obvious -- that the animal wasn't being neglected.  In fact, you could say that he was being indulged.  So he stayed.

To his credit, Rodney's owner did his best to make amends.  He'd call his neighbors on the phone, tell them, "He's very nice, you should get to know him," then put the rooster on the phone.  Despite this and other attempts at peace-making, the neighbors' hearts weren't warmed but further hardened. Instead of finding bags of birdseed at his door the man found at least one box of shake-and-bake.

Just because you have the freedom to do something doesn't mean that you should.  This truth also applies to the practice of our faith

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?  (Galatians 5:13-15, The Message)

You may have noticed that the man in the above story is unnamed; that is because all too easily that man could be one of us.  Oh, we might not insist on keeping a rooster in our home, but there are instances where we can all too easily insist on our own way because we can.  When we see our interactions with people as a win/lose proposition, we certainly don't want to be on the losing end -- and then act accordingly.  While it's true that the Bible commands certain things and not others, Jesus gave us a new commandment: to love one another.  "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." says our Lord.  (John 13:34-35).   Actions based solely on our right or freedom to do something, regardless of its effect on others, is frankly, nothing for the Christian to crow about.

Thankfully, the story of the man, the neighbors and the displaced rooster has a happy ending.  After two years -- or 730 dawns to crow at -- one of the neighbors came up with a solution to the fowl problem.  There was a working farm and petting zoo for children in a neighboring town.  Wouldn't Rodney do well there?  And wouldn't Rodney bring joy and happiness to the many children who came to visit?  The owner was persuaded, people were relieved, and peace was restored. 

May God's peace prevail among us, too, as we live lives of freedom in the love of God and our neighbor.

Joy in Jesus,

Pastor Wagner

Special thanks to Roger Pratt for the providing the feathery details of this month's story.