wanna waddle?

recently my msn name has been "I'd like to be a penguin." this has prompted a hefty slew of questions on why I'd want to be a penguin. this is slightly unexpected. after all, who wouldn't want to be a penguin - especially an emperor penguin? have you seen the snazzy suits they wear or thought about the joy they must have sliding along on their glossy white bellies?
 

as I thought about it more, and learned a bit more about these plump birds, I realized it was no longer merely an inane nickname. I really do want to be a penguin. perhaps it is because they are my inspiration when it comes to the ladies. all us single guys could use some 'picking-up' tips from these swathe gentlemen, these dashing romeos. while singing their love sings, their courtship behaviour includes a wide range of displays ranging from head bowing to head swinging and walking around in a most impressive manner.

after finding his girl, the two are together for good. apparently they haven't been to north america much. human husbands and fathers have much to learn from the male penguin about dedication and self-sacrifice. not only is he devoted to his mate for life, but after she has given birth he takes care of their young one 24 hours a day while she leaves him for the winter to regain her strength by the sea. by the time the chick hatches, he will have fasted for four months and will be starved to approximately half his original body mass, because he cannot leave the egg alone in the temperatures that may fall below -60 Celsius with blizzards of up to 200 km/h. all this is done with faith that his love will return in time to save him and their young one. that's romantic.

I find a deeper inspiration in the penguin than just in the romance department. it is how I truly want to be a penguin. in fact, I intensely desire that everyone in the Body of Christ would become penguins in this way, especially in North America. I am not suggesting that we all start to waddle, as cute as that would be. I think there is a profoundly simple truth of our faith to be learned from penguins.
 

in the extremely harsh conditions of the winter months, the male penguins exemplify what it means to love their brothers. while incubating the little ones, male penguins pack as closely together as they possibly can. "there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."
in this huddle, individuals seem to temporarily lose their identity and their mass adopts the appearance and behavior of a single living entity. "that they may be one as we are one."
they self-sacrificially follow one another in a constant rotation through the warmest centre of the huddle to the outer edges, where the cold bites most bitterly. "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
if it weren't for this sacrificial love and cooperation, there is no way that they could accomplish what they do. "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken."
 

not only this, but they are preserving the future generation. they don't just endure this hardship for their own survival, but for the survival of their brothers and the young ones. an egg or chick left unattended can freeze to death in two minutes. we also need to watch out for those who are still infants in the faith or their joy in the Lord, too, will die.
 

in the Word we are commanded emphatically, again and again, to love our brothers and sisters in Christ - to sacrifice for them and to care for them. if one in our huddle dies, it is because he was not relieved from the bitter chill of the Enemy by one of his brothers. if one of our sisters feels alienated from God's love, there is a good chance that she is not being loved by the Body.

"if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

if outsiders are not seeking warmth in the Body, it is almost certainly because our love for one another has grown cold. there is no greater inspiration to love than love itself. before anyone hears our words, they are going to look for our love.

"by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
 

perhaps it will not be until we face -60 degrees and 200 km/h winds that we will truly learn to love one another. however, i do know that the air is getting colder, and I'd rather start a huddle now than wait until the blizzard hits.

would you be a penguin with me?