The Chickens,
                        and the New Galvanized Pail

The pail, purchased that morning at the SAVE-A-BUNDLE, glistened and glimmered with clean, fresh water new from the garden hose.  A trickle of water dripped over the downhill side of the bucket and formed a small puddle in the August dust.

The chickens approached the coop's shiny intruder cautiously.   Once again demonstrating her curious nature, the hen named Broke-toe pecked the bucket with a "PING" that startled the other chickens and brought them closer to investigate.  One by one, all 19 chickens examined the new galvanized pail, pinged it with their beaks, and then turned away without ever noticing the cool, fresh water inside.

Suddenly, one of of the hens noticed the quickly disappearing puddle of muddy-brown water at the base of the new pail.  A general "Bawk, Bawk!" of delight passed through the flock as the hens jostled for position around the base of the pail to satisify their August-afternoon thirst.

Those chickens were so funny!  But they got me to thinking.   How often I pass the pristine, refreshing, water of God's Word to seek refreshment in the muddy-brown puddles of human wisdom.  I squawk with delight at finding a new curriculum that looks good and jostle for position to be the first mom in the co-op to give it a try.  Sure, I give a passing "PING" to the Bible, after all, I am the co-head of a creation ministry whose motto is "Where Science Meets the Scripture".  But do I really believe that the Bible has all the answers?   The answers to science questions?  The answers to history questions?  The answers to personal questions?  The answers to my children's questions?  The answers to the skeptic's questions?

Ohh, just in case you are wondering, the chickens did eventually find the water.  But they got very, very thirsty first. 

There is a spiritual lesson there in the chicken coop somewhere. . .