I learned about a new bird last week: The mockingbird. Here is what Wikipedia says about it: ‘They are best known for the habit of some species mimicking the songs of other birds and the sounds of insects and amphibians, often loudly and in rapid succession.” This reminded me of a story I read last week. It is a story found in the 16th chapter of the Book of Numbers in the Bible.
In this story, a man, Korah, rises against what felt to him like the authoritarian and nepotistic rule of Moses and his brother Aaron. In his revolt, he gathers over 250 other people and in essence tells Moses and Aaron, “Who do you think you are, setting yourselves up over everybody? There are many able folks here, too, who are as able to lead as you are…!” At first glimpse, it seems that Korah sings the populist song. He is a man of the people fighting for true democracy. He promotes himself as one who is more concerned for the welfare of the nation than even Moses and Aaron. But a deeper look at the situation reveals a different song. History and genealogy books teach that whereas Korah was supposed to be the leader of his family clan, for one reason or another, Moses chose one of his younger brothers instead. As the mockingbird has no song of his own, he mimiks the beautiful song of others, and that because he has an agenda. Here is the continuation of Wikipedia’s entry on the mockingbird, ‘Some types of mockingbirds are known to lay "alien eggs", or eggs that are laid in another bird's nest. ... the mockingbirds' offspring will force the other nest inhabitants from the nest, taking all the food from the parents and forcing the foster-parents to rear and fledge them.’ And what is the idea behind all that? In every group, society, company, party, be they religious, commercial, or political, there will always be that one irritant to the leader, the person who constantly opposes him. For the most part, that person will bring very valuable points to the leader’s attention and a good leader will make good use of such a person. The problem comes when the person’s beautiful and righteous populist song is only a hypocritical cover-up for the brash noise of self-promotion. Criticism is great. We should all invite criticism both in our our lives and in everything we do. It is the key to innovation and progress. But let us beware of the true motivations of those in our lives whose criticism is the cover-up for a selfish agenda.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
If you appreciate these articles, support their upcoming publication in a book called, "REFLECTIONS OF A FIRE CHAPLAIN"
|