Cujo

A photo I snapped last night of Cujo, our Blue and Gold Macaw, with Matt. Anyone who owns parrots will tell you that they act like two year olds—sometimes they love you, sometimes they nip you. Yep, Cujo is a typical parrot.

When I picked him up from the breeder, I asked her, "why is he named Cujo?" (I knew that Cujo was the name of a famous rabid St. Bernard in a Stephen King novel). She answered, "Oh, you'll find out." When I opened his travel cage to let him out after we arrived home, he tried to bite me; then I understood.

Parrots need a lot of activity and interaction, so I try and keep him out of his cage as much as possible. He even sleeps on a T-stand in our room (yeah, I know it's weird, but then we are weird people, probably weirder than your average bird owners). They can also screech to wake the dead. Thankfully, Cujo is quieter than your average macaw (but yes, he can (and probably has) awoken the dead).

He's also EXTREMELY protective of his gang (that would be us). When Kelly's boyfriend first started coming over, he was harassing Kelly (in fun) and Cujo jumped off his cage, ran over and attempted to bite Andy. He has hated Andy ever since (parrots have long memories).

Speaking of gangs, parrots are flocking birds, so if you live in the house, you are part of his flock. This generally means that a. he likes you and will protect you, and b. if you are eating something, then he ought to be eating something as well (and not nasty bird food, real human food), after all we are part of the same flock and the flock shares its food.

Oh, and for some reason, he REALLY loves women in general, and blonde women in particular. He DOES NOT like strangers who talk loud and move fast, and he HATES Andy. Andy is the enemy.

You Will be Hated...

Not words that bring excitement when one hears them. Christ is clear as mountain air here, no parables, no hiding the message, just plain and simple: If you follow me, you will be hated. No one likes hearing that message, more less living it out, but it's the cost of following Christ. If you want to follow me, says Christ, you will be hated by all men.

John Chrysostom works out what this means for us: The courts of justice will go against you. Kings will assail you, as will governors, the synagogues of the Jews and the magistrates of the Gentiles. Both rulers and ruled will combat you. He was preparing them not only for what was to befall them in Palestine but also throughout the world. For they were soon to be sent to the Gentiles with this same proclamation. In doing so they would find that the whole world opposes them. In this spiritual warfare all that dwell upon the earth, all peoples, tyrants and kings, will be arrayed against them. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY