It's Not My Shicken!!!

As I continue in the blogging world there will be dozens of references to my 'shicken' story. Rather than make you guess, here is my 'shicken' story.

It's Not My Shicken!

Most of us live in a town that has some type of fair or celebration; Peach Festival, Pancake Days or County Fair all designed for family fun. In my hometown we celebrate Rooster Days. It harkens back to the good old days when farmers brought their hens and roosters to market. Parades, breakfasts, rides and a general party atmosphere pervades the town for almost a week.

During Rooster Days my friend picked up her two young boys from daycare ready to head home at the end of a long day. At daycare the boys had made rooster pictures by tracing their hands and decorating the masterpiece. The boys grabbed their backpacks and pictures, jumped in the car and drove home. As the Mom began to get the boys out of the car the youngest started to cry. We've all been here ~ the more she tries to persuade him to get out of the car the louder he cries. Finally she asks what's wrong? He lifts up his rooster picture and says, "It's not my shicken!" Mom tries to pacify him saying how nice this rooster is and we'll put it up on the fridge. He replies, "Why, it's not my shicken". In order to calm the scene Mom gets back in the car, drives to daycare, takes back the rooster picture and finds the correct shicken picture. Life is now wonderful because he has his own shicken, not someone elses.

What has that got to do with the price of tea in China? Not much, but it does have a lot to do with how we live our lives as Christians.

Our personality and culture create a norm to be satisfied in carrying around other people's shicken. We'll even stick other people's shicken up on our fridge and act like it's ours, giving it all the respect and attention deserved.

Definition of shicken:

• 
  Offense ~ Your co-worker has been offended by another co-worker ~ their shicken. The co-worker has never been anything but nice to you. After they tell you the story of what happened you see why they are offended. Now you are offened for the person and begin treating the co-worker differently ~ it has become your shicken.


• Guilt ~ They need help in the canteen at your daughter's soccer game. You are scheduled to take your Mom to visit her sister and your spouse can't make that weekend either. You will fill in twice next month but this weekend is out. The canteen lady is a little snippy and has a few snide comments about the lack of support for your daughter's team ~ it's her attitude (shicken). Even though you know there isn't anything you can do to be there you worry and stew over what the canteen lady said to you and feel guilty because you can't make it ~ her shicken has now transformed into a shicken that you are carrying.


• Anger/Strife ~ Your friend for decades has decided to leave the church you both attend and go to the church across town. Problem is they make a big deal about it and try to stir up problems even after they leave. They are carrying around a huge shicken related to this change. Two things happen 1)They want you to take on their shicken of anger and help stir up strife ~ transfer their shicken to you. 2)You think it's all ridiculous and want them to let it go. However it makes you angry enough that you begin to treat them differently and habor things in your heart towards them ~ you have succesfully created your own shicken.

People want to transfer their shicken to you; and we willingly take their shicken home with us and stick it on the fridge. When the neighbor comes over for coffee we oo and aw over the shicken on the fridge hashing over the merits, clarity and validity of the shicken.

Of course the best fridge art seems to be the shicken we create on our own. We are always proudest of the shicken we created from our own imagination.

If we are designed to make roosters but in it's place put up shickens we are out of alignment with what is right. God created us to commune with Him and while we are on this journey we are to work on being known as Christians. How do they know you are a Christian? By your love.

Are the pictures on your fridge roosters, created with love?

Are your fridge shickens created by you and others using all manner of anger, bitterness, guilt and offense?

It's time to clear off your fridge and remind yourself, "It's not my shicken!"

Kim Angela