Chicken Little's warning, "The sky is falling" at first caused panic among the village folk. Soon their panic turned to contempt and Chicken Little was ridiculed and ostracized. Even his own father refused to believe him and tried to shut him up. Fortunately for Chicken Little, he had two friends, both outcasts themselves, who didn't turn against him. Of course, in typical Disney style, the "hero" is in the end vindicated and everyone lives happily ever after.
Chicken Little perceived something no one else did, a piece of the sky fell. God often uses one person who perceives a unique movement of the Spirit to announce that something new is happening. Every year on the second Sunday of Advent, the gospel lectionary reading tells the story of John the Baptist. John's pronouncement that God was about to do something new was first met with panic. People from whole region flocked to hear him. But those who were a part of the establishment, the scribes and pharisees, looked upon John with disdain. Eventually, when John refused to shut up, Herod had him killed.
It seems to be a near universal truth that those who would do new things are inevitably met with resistance and even persecution. The question every person must ask him or herself is, "Do I believe in what I have perceived enough to face criticism?" Many wonderful ideas have died because people have said no to that question.
I want to encourage those who feel God is calling them to some new thing not to let the voices of the crowd dissuade you. And though I can't promise you that in the end you'll live happily ever after, (you might lose our life or some part of it), perceiving and doing God's will is the greatest adventure a human being can embark upon.
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