What truth there is in this! Even the smallest towns usually have their dominance hierarchy where voicing beliefs that counter what's best for those at the top can be dangerous --certainly to one's social standing if not one's actual life.. Finding the courage to do it anyway is rare, sadly even among Christians. It takes (at least for me) a lot of time to cultivate in ourselves more of what Thomas, MLK, and others had in abundance.
I love that you used the example of chickens and pecking order! The same behavior is true in cattle, horses, and so many other animals. Within the herd, there is a leader. The leader’s role is to help the community stay safe so the leader must stay strong and healthy. When the leader is no longer able to fulfill its role, another becomes the “cock of the walk.”
One might even see a similar behavior in plants, such as trees. For example the stronger trees grow and suck up the water and nutrients around them blocking the sunlight so other plants have difficulty growing and manufacturing the food they need to live. Yet, as Suzanne Simard writes in “Finding the Mother Tree” there is a nurturing nature, a form of communication, amongst the community of trees.
Super powerful…so spot on. Thank you for this, Jake. It’s so very good.
An awesome message for such a time as this... and much appreciated... thanks Jake!
Such behaviour is sadly far to common place back then and now, but if we have faith and trust in Jesus we will be ok in the end
What truth there is in this! Even the smallest towns usually have their dominance hierarchy where voicing beliefs that counter what's best for those at the top can be dangerous --certainly to one's social standing if not one's actual life.. Finding the courage to do it anyway is rare, sadly even among Christians. It takes (at least for me) a lot of time to cultivate in ourselves more of what Thomas, MLK, and others had in abundance.
I love that you used the example of chickens and pecking order! The same behavior is true in cattle, horses, and so many other animals. Within the herd, there is a leader. The leader’s role is to help the community stay safe so the leader must stay strong and healthy. When the leader is no longer able to fulfill its role, another becomes the “cock of the walk.”
One might even see a similar behavior in plants, such as trees. For example the stronger trees grow and suck up the water and nutrients around them blocking the sunlight so other plants have difficulty growing and manufacturing the food they need to live. Yet, as Suzanne Simard writes in “Finding the Mother Tree” there is a nurturing nature, a form of communication, amongst the community of trees.