A pigeon by any other name

a few years ago, i started to become really aware of the need to become a better neighbor.  not just personally, but as a church.  this observation may not be an exact fit, but it’s close:

it seems like christians have this amazing ability to find and connect with their own kind…kind of like homing pigeons, which have this innate ability to find their way home…to the other other pigeons…to their own mate…even from extremely long distances.  

we homing christians will venture away from our nests to go to work, or to the store, or the ball field…any number of places…but we have a nose for home.  we have a nose for our kind. few of us pigeons are ever comfortable out there.

we are thrilled when we find out that a new co-worker is a pigeon, er…christian.  we would much rather have a fellow believer in the cubicle next to us…or on the study group…or as a coach for our kid…or the new principle.  we are ecstatic when we find out that the new folks moving in next door are pigeons.   truth be told, most of us are happier when a fellow pigeon joins our nest, than when one of those pesky gackles find their way to the front door of our church building.  

we love to roll out the red carpet for “our kind”.  our eyes pop at the prospect of a new bible class teacher or a new youth worker or a faithful money giver.  we long to have new pigeons join our team and bring instant understanding and loyalty.  but those gackles…

don’t mistake my little bird metaphor as a negative judgment on the gackle.  it’s quite the opposite.  i think it’s about time we start to admit the kind of pigeons we really are.

#birds #neighbor #outreach