Disclaimer: The following reference to Discovery Channel’s
TV series “Naked and Afraid” in no way indicates my endorsement of the program but is used for
comparison purposes only.
"Dear friends, do
not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something
strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the
sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."—1 Peter 4:12-13
Remember the peacock from my previous post…standing in front
of the glass door, gazing at his reflection, his beautiful four-foot-long
plumage gone. Does he feel naked without
that gorgeous train that was once a part of him—his identity even? I mean, what’s a peacock without a fan of
blue-green feathers, each marked with that distinguishing feature, the
all-too-familiar eye. Without it, does
he feel afraid—naked and afraid?
The truth is that all mature peacocks shed their tail
feathers every year in late summer. The
shedding process is called molting. If
it happens every year, then the peacock shouldn’t be surprised, right? Doesn’t he know this isn’t something strange
happening to him—that his feathers will grow again and he will be beautiful in
time?
