Running Around Like a Chicken

By Robin Steinweg –

When I was five, we had a bachelor neighbor up the hill from where I played. He lived a frugal, somewhat rustic life. While my mom brought home packaged chicken for dinner, the neighbor brought live chickens. I didn’t know they were meant to be butchered for that night’s neighborhood picnic. After the chickens arrived, I heard a commotion of squawking. I looked up from my leaf fort. To my horror, three chickens zigzagged and tumbled down the hill toward me—without heads! They were making good time, too. One of them stumbled over a branch and went kitty-wampus, head over h… Uh, well, you get the idea. They finally collapsed, thankfully not very near me.

I’d forgotten all about those chickens till I read from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians: “He has lost connection with the Head…”

Uh, oh! I’m like one of those chickens, in danger of losing connection with the Head, Christ. If I keep randomly adding things to my too-busy days, I’ll zigzag around without direction and eventually collapse.

Unlike those unfortunate chickens, there is help for me. If I’m still and listen, He’ll redirect and reconnect me. He’ll set me back on a hard, firm path where He can steady me with His hand and I can run His race without tripping.

PRAYER: Lord, next time I run around like a chicken with its head cut off, remind me to run straight to You and Your Word for direction.

“Those who love Your law are completely secure; nothing causes them to stumble” (Psalm 119:165, NET).

Today’s devotional is by Robin J. Steinweg. Robin’s life might be described using the game Twister: the colored dots are all occupied, limbs intertwine (hopefully not to the point of tangling), and you never know which dot the arrow will point to next, but it sure is fun getting there!