One night the peacock’s wife became deathly ill. He could do nothing for her as she got worse and worse. The peacock you may remember has a beautiful tail and its feathers are prized. But for all his beauty he could not help his beloved wife. While he knew that out in the forest there was a medicinal root that could heal her, he did not know where it was and it was dark at night. He went to the eagle and asked him, “Can you help me for my wife is deathly sick and needs the special root out in the forest?” The eagle answered I am very strong and can fly great distances, but I cannot see in the dark to find the root for you. So the peacock went to the parrot and asked for his help. The parrot replied, “Though I am very wise I cannot help you for I cannot see in the dark to go into the forest and find the root. But why don’t you go ask the owl for help.”
Now the birds did not like the owl. The owl was a nocturnal hunter and did not hunt like the other birds during the day. And they did not like the sound the owl made. But the peacock went to ask the owl for help because he loved his wife very much and did not know what else to do.
When the peacock asked the owl for help, the owl agreed readily to help. He said, “I think I know where that root grows and besides I can see in the dark.” So off flew the owl with his hooting. He returned soon with the root cure and the peacock’s wife was healed.
We know that God has given each of us different gifts. Just as the birds had different gifts: beauty, strength, wisdom, and the ability to see at night, so do we. Even one who we may not like very well has been given gifts from God to be used for the common good. We should not look down on someone, but value him as one to whom God also gave gifts. Also, the owl very readily went to get the root. If we are despised by others, we should still be willing to help using what God has given us. The love we show in this case reminds the others that it is not right to despise one another.
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THE WONDER OF THE EMPTY TOMB
The ancient world boasted of seven wonders: the pyramids of Egypt; the hanging gardens of Babylon; the temple of the goddess Diana at Ephesus; the lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt; the statue of the pagan god Zeus at Olympic, Greece; and the tomb of the Persian king Halicarnassus.
Of all those ancient wonders, only the pyramids are still standing. All the others have crumbled, along with the ancient world powers whose accomplishments they memorialized. But another wonder from the ancient world is still very much alive today. This wonder is more significant than all seven of these ancient landmarks put together. This is the wonder of the empty tomb of Jesus at Jerusalem.
When the body of Jesus was placed in the tomb, the forces of evil were certain they had won the victory at last. But Jesus was raised on the third day. His resurrection proved that he was more powerful than sin and death and all the other negative forces that Satan uses against us.
Wonder of wonders, Jesus lives! And his dynamic power is available to all who place their faith and trust in him.
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