The problem with being a parrot is that I am terribly curious and inquisitive. I have to check everything out, and know about everything around me. I often blame my beak for leading me astray, but I suppose it’s my brain that really tells it what to do. And a big beak can mean big trouble…….
Just imagine if you had a beak like mine. Wouldn’t you want to see how quickly you could shred that bunch of flowers in the vase? Or prise the lid off the sugar pot, and then dunk your head inside to see what’s there?
Yes, this may all be great fun, but rather more worryingly, a big beak can enable you to muscle your way into the middle of discussions or disputes or secrets being shared. Yes, a big beak can really get you centre-stage!
But that’s when the problems can really begin to start. Because when you know about everybody else; when you are at the centre of all of their news and gossip, - their yin and their yang, -then what started out as a little nosiness can develop into something a great deal worse. Such as a self-righteous superiority complex. You can begin to believe that you are bigger and better than the others around you. You can start to scorn, snigger, sneer and condemn everybody else, while keeping your own personal failings completely hidden from view. Just think about many of those humans in the British parliament, or writing in the British press, or some of those humans using social media……..
Jesus knew all about the problems of self-righteousness after His dealings with the Pharisees and Sadducees. It’s a negative, dark force that can do untold harm to the world. And as that famous passage from 1 Corinthians reminds us, it can become the antithesis to God’s love:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs……….” (1Corinthians: 13:4-7)
So as Christians, we must never seek information about others so that we can then judge them according to our own imperfect standards. The message of Jesus is one of love and humility. If we find ourselves equipped with more power or strength or advantage than others around us, then let’s use it all wisely, instead of abusing our position. Remember what Jesus once said about judging others:
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3).
So, I am definitely reserving my beak for minor indiscretions rather than anything more. No gossip, no power-games, no self-righteous posing and strutting around…….. But just the odd naughty foray into the sugar pot!
That again is just what I needed to hear Coco, thank you x