In many ways, parrots have it made. Because unlike humans, we don’t have to go out to work. (In our world, we just help ourselves to whatever happens to be within reach of our beaks). So no bills or mortgages to worry about; we can be 100% parrot in the way we live out our lives.
And this makes me feel very sorry for humans. I recently heard one asking why Friday had to be so close to Monday, yet Monday so far away from Friday. He clearly didn’t enjoy going off to work.
Humans have made their world extremely complex. And sometimes, I find myself asking the question whether ‘humans work to live, or do they live to work?’ And I suppose that the answer to that question depends upon the type of work they are doing, and the way they choose to approach it. Does their work make them a better person, or does it enable them to help others? Or is their whole working life driven by their need or desire for money?
Let’s think about Jesus. During His final three years, He certainly had a lot of work to do. But all the work He undertook was for the benefit of others. For all humanity and Creation. It had nothing to do with money or paying bills. Jesus worked to give everyone a meaningful existence and a long-term future.
Lots of humans can take a leaf out of Jesus’ book. Because no job, -irrespective of whether it be President, Prime Minister, road sweeper or toilet cleaner, -no job should be purely about the money involved. Because the common good of humanity and the rest of the world has to be at the heart of everybody’s role in life. And when it is, Monday can seem very close to Friday. Because work takes on a new purpose and meaning.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you are working for the Lord and not for men. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for His people. For Christ is the real master you serve.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
When humans work only for money’s sake, then it is they that become the real cage birds. It’s not we parrots. There’s no money in our world. Money, for moneys-sake will trap, ensnare, distort and ultimately dissatisfy.
…….Which is why I’m the ‘pretty boy’ and their not!
