Rooster Talk

The days race by and we stand amazed, wondering where they went and what we did with them? It seems they are shorter too. Night comes all too soon and then, it seems, as soon as we have fallen asleep the Lord awakens us with the challenge of a new day.

Don't misunderstand these words - the Lord awakens us but it isn't the Lord that challenges us. It is the day itself - born as an unfolding 24-hour mystery into a world that invented the alarm clock to compete with the dawn, and quite possibly the original morning bugler - the rooster. And when the new day has ended, and the darkness falls, it can never return, it is gone forever.

I wonder what the rooster is saying in rooster talk when he crows so loud in the darkest predawn hour. Is he alerting all life to "awake and arise"? Is he the night watchman that declares to the sleeping world, "It is morning and all is well?" Is he demanding the light come forth? Or is he lifting his voice to his maker in early morning praise?

It was the early morning crowing of a rooster that convicted Peter. The Master had prophesied the word at supper and the rooster fulfilled that word: "Verily I say unto you, that this night, before the cock crow, you will deny me three times" (Matthew 26:34).

Today, roosters still guard the henhouse and awaken the farmers. But the city dwellers - well - they have it rough - they have alarm clocks...

If the beginning of our new day was not so fractured by the alarm clock, the sunrise would be more beautiful. If there was no early morning shock from the alarm clock, our disposition would be more acceptable. This is why they are called "alarm" clocks - they shatter our peace and disintegrate our central nervous systems. Like the air-raid sirens of World War Two that "alarmed" us temporarily but effectively and often enough.

Of course, one has to be retired to know this...

In the twelve years I have been retired I have marvelled at the way the Holy Spirit awakens me every morning with a nudge in my own spirit without benefit of alarm clock or rooster. Sometimes it is pre-dawn, sometimes I rise with the sun. But it is always early, and it is always with a grateful greeting for the trinity and the new day. To be wakened at all is a blessing, for each and every day is a gift of life to be cherished, shared and filled with all goodness and kindness toward others. We can complain and abuse the day away or we can spend this potentially last chance making a difference for someone somewhere. Every new morning brings new mercies and new choices...

There is another edge to this story - an alarm clock cannot speak - it can only scream at us in its programmed moment. On the other hand, the rooster is a living creature, created by God, with reasoning and with its own language. You may not think a rooster has reasoning, but having been raised on a small farm with chickens and a rooster, I can confirm to you they have plenty of reasoning.

I wasn't allowed in the chicken yard because of that rooster. He hated me. When I mowed the grass in the back yard or just lay in the hammock under the grapevines, he would attack the fence and literally lunge for me. We finally decided he was a killer (devil) rooster, especially when he attacked my egg-gathering grandmother, so he had to be replaced. The new rooster proved likable and acceptable, a goodly prince of the chicken yard. There were times I honestly believed that rooster understood every word of greeting I said. He would turn his head to one side and, looking me straight in the eye, he would listen. Of course, there was a fence between us...

The human and the rooster didn't have to learn a common language to communicate. A smile, a tone of voice, and soft words said a lot to the rooster, and he said a lot through the response of his own demeanor. Finally, assured that he was appreciated, and convinced he had nothing to fear, he faithfully alerted us every new morning that a new day had arrived...it was 5 a.m. "Get Up!" My grandparents were up at 5 a.m. The rest of us crawled out at 5:30...

Isn't it wonderful how God has programmed into each of us, man and beast alike, the abilities for understanding and trust. There is also a universal extension of friendship and help when needed, and not a word needs to be said by beast, nor grunt or growl by human, to make it work. There are times of course when caution is needed and a wise and discerning fear is healthy. At times like this, whether we are man or beast, we need to heed the warning...

I used to sit away the evening on our river pier in Maryland and sing softly the old hymns that carried across the waters and deep into the waters. After a while, the fish would begin jumping out of the water and swimming toward the pier. They would gather around the pier to listen to the praises of the old hymns as they jumped and frolicked in and out of the water. People I share this story with think I am crazy, but it is true. Try it some time. Sit long enough for them to watch you and trust you and they will come.

Praises unto the Father are universal for man, fish, fowl, and beast. Joy is universal and praise singing is contagious. It has a heavenly sound all creatures recognize. All creatures know the Creator, and most creatures (with some exceptions) praise Him in one fashion or another. But don't take my word for it - check it out for yourself...

Even the flowers and the kitchen gardens know Him. Sing or talk softly and quietly to your tomato plants - tell them how beautifully God created them, and how loved they are. Praise the Lord with scripture for their hearing and thank them for producing such delicious fruit for the children of the Master. Then watch them begin to vibrate and lightly move in response. Even the trees know Him, the rocks and the storms. Speak peace to the storm and it will calm its rage. Command the hurricane back out to sea to dissipate. I once stood up and in faith I commanded a hurricane heading into the Chesapeake Bay to turn back out to sea and it made an immediate turn to the right, toward the East, and the Delmarva peninsula was spared a disaster.

If you know not what power you possess in the Holy Ghost and in the Name of Jesus, then shame on you. If you know not that all creatures great and small, all herbs and fruits, all flora and streams know and respond to our praises to the Father, then shame on you. If you know not there is a universal language of Kingdom fellowship, then shame on you. Perhaps you need to be awakened by the Holy Spirit or hear the praises of the rooster.

Oh, what blessings are ours when we seek to walk in God's world of wonders and understand with fervor the riches of His Grace that are extended to all. How blessed indeed are those that do not doubt, and those that do not scoff, for the wonders of the Kingdom are not lost to them. The glory of these wonders shine in their eyes and are reflected in their faces even as they weep for those who have no understanding. With a humility born of Grace they bless when they are cursed, they give when they are robbed, they love when they are hated, and they forgive the swordsman...

These are the children of the Kingdom...

Joan Krempel
August 20, 2009
joan@joankrempelministries.com