mockingbird

The only bird that sings at night

with such boldness and pride

is the mockingbird

O, you’ll hear hoots sometimes

and maybe a few other sounds

but this bird is undaunting, unsolicited, and out to raise cain

Sort of like some people …

they play to you

they listen to you

agree with you

talk your talk when you’re around …

but when night comes

mockery hits the stage

for anyone that will listen

and your words, your thoughts, your feelings, your things said in confidence, your secrets

become told, across the spaces

There is no bird quite like the mockingbird

They have virtually no song of their own

Every beautiful twitter and tweet is copied

and replayed almost perfectly

for those with ears to hear

People get confused

They think they’re listening to the robin, or the sparrow, or the finch …

until the mockingbird changes his tune,

and then again, a different song

and then another …

and you finally realized you were pillaged, raped and murdered

by that one

the one you opened your mouth to

sang to …

… the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. … no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. (James 3).

as Jesus' follower

i really should exhibit the highest standard of integrity

when someone confides in me

(possibly precisely because they know i'm a christian)

my response is to be one of trustworthiness

worthy of the trust they showed when they took me into their confidence

and told me their stuff

anything else is beneath Jesus

gossip, cheap shots, grapevining, slander (?)

i'm working on being Jesusish in this

join me

shalom