Chapel Chicken

So there' this chicken that Zaili named, Chapel Chicken. This brown chicken basically lives in the back of the alter in the chapel. Mot of the time you wouldn't know she's there unless you look. Every once in a while the chicken is coming or going during our worship. After being here 2 months there are some things that are pretty "normal" during worship; Chapel Chicken in the alter, Rocky the dog barking his head off outside, a cow passing by and Jimmy the dog curled up, front and center by the alter rail.

But this morning the chicken came in, then moments later in a fit of energy, Jimmy came running in after her. Did I mention Sathya just began our prayer? There was so much clucking and scampering!!!! It was hard not to chuckle to myself at first. Then, it was my job to make sure Zaili didn't laugh her head off. One boy did get up to get Jimmy out...unsuccessfully. The chicken was up front freaking out as loud as she could. The rooster was outside clucking, I guess reassuring or giving instructions to Mrs. Chicken. Amongst this chaos Sathya. a 10th grade girl, kept praying, on her knees, head bowed, eyes closed and completely connected to God....and so were all the other children.

In my obvious distraction, I was struck by their clear focus on God. Inspired, I began to pray in the chaos and connect to my Savior. What a lesson I learned from this morning's excitement. In the US we may not have dogs and chickens and roosters in or around our churches but we certainly bring a lot of distraction into those walls and into our times of prayer and connecting with God. The creator of the universe deserves our full attention. This isn't an easy expectation but not much about discipleship is easy. But all worth it! Thanks to Chapel Chicken, Jimmy, Sathya and the children at Carmel, I will press on toward the goal. Philippians 3:14.