The following is a version of an ancient folk tale that I read in French on the internet several years ago. The main character is called Chicken Little in the USA and Petit Poulet in France. I have used the name that is more familiar in Canada and the UK.

Henny Penny made her breakfast toast, poured a coffee and opened her laptop to check the news. Soon her eyes lit on a frightening headline:

THE SKY IS FALLING!

The story cited research papers, explained by important scientists. Henny Penny’s anxiety increased as she read. Quickly she fired off emails warning friends of the impending catastrophe. Finally she could sit no longer. She jumped up and ran out into the barnyard, flapping her wings and squawking “The sky is falling!” “The sky is falling!”

Most of the barnyard creatures barely looked up from the things they were doing. Those who did said things like:

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“There’s nothing I can do about it.”

“Why should I care?”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Nevertheless, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey and Tturkey Lurkey took the time to listen to Henny Penny, and they said: “If you read it on the internet, it must be true. We need to go and warn the king. Surely he will be able to do something to stop the sky from falling.”

So they set off down the road to find the king, all squawking, quacking, honking and gobbling the warning: “The sky is falling!” “The sky is falling!”

After several hours they met Foxy Loxy who asked “What has made you ladies so alarmed?”

The explained the message of impending doom. “Henny Penny read it on the internet and we are going to talk to the king and implore him to do something to prevent it.”

“Hmm, that is very serious,” said Foxy Loxy. “I would like to go with you and help you explain matters to the king. But look, the sun is starting to go down. Soon it will be dark and it won’t be safe for us to be on the road after dark.”

“I know just the thing. There is a place where we can be safe. Just follow me.”

So they left the road and followed Foxy Loxy across the meadow and into the hills. He led them to a cave on the side of a high hill. “We will be safe here. If the sky falls in the night we will be protected.” And they all happily settled down for the night.

The next morning, Foxy Loxy is out in the warm sunshine, sitting with his back against a tree and his laptop on his knees. But there is no sign of Henny Penny, Ducky Locky, Loosey Goosey or Turkey Lurkey. What have they gone?

Take a closer look at Foxy Loxy. His tummy is much rounder than it was last night. Do you suppose? Can it be?

Let’s sneak around to look over his shoulder and see what he is writing on his laptop.

Why, it is another story to post on the internet!

That’s the end of the old folk tale. Let’s consider it as an allegory for Christians of our day.

There are a lot of well-meaning Christians just like Henny Penny. They are crying out that the world is going to wrack and to ruin, and that it is our duty as Christians to mobilize in order to make governments aware of the impending crisis and move them to do something about it. These Henny Pennys are all so earnest and sincere, shouldn’t we join in their efforts, or at least cheer them on?

But who is behind this fear-mongering? It is Foxy Loxy, the devil, and he is not wanting to improve our governments, he is looking for a meal. He wants to suck the love, joy, peace and all evidence of spiritual life out of our lives.

As Christians, we really are called to change the world. But the only way that has ever worked is from the bottom up, one person at a time. Our most effective tools in that battle are loe, joy, peace, and truth.

I am old enough, and enough of a student of history, to have observed how efforts to change the world from the top down have led to disaster, time after time. That is Foxy Loxy’s game. Be afraid.