On Saturday we saw the report of Rebecca Cheptegei’s funeral. The Olympic marathon runner, set ablaze by her former boyfriend, was been buried in eastern Uganda.
We were reminded of the 33-year-old’s brutal killing at the emotional funeral ceremony. Fellow athletes wore black T-shirts with the slogan ‘say no to gender-based violence’.
The news often reminds us of innocent, powerless victims – of knife crime, sexual abuse, missile attacks, domestic violence, racial prejudice…
At church yesterday morning Lou reminded us of the story of the chicken and the pig who provide a breakfast. There are many variations involving humorous conversations, with chicken and pig developing outrageous characteristics.
The point of the story is that both volunteer. The chicken contributes to the breakfast by providing eggs, whereas the pig is committed sacrificially to the breakfast with his bacon.
I’ve heard it used at work: ‘chickens’ contribute, discussing, consulting on a project; ‘pigs’ are totally committed to the project and accountable for its outcome. I’ve heard it used regarding faith – ‘chickens’ are involved in church; ‘pigs’ are totally committed. Different levels of volunteering.
This morning I read the story of Daniel. He’s an older statesman. Having served the Babylonian kings Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar he’s now a senior official in the government of Darius the Mede. Other administrators plot against him, and a law is passed, outlawing prayer to Daniel’s god.
He continues to pray three times each day, is arrested and thrown into the lions’ den, I mused… was Daniel the victim of a cruel plot, or by continuing to pray was he a volunteer for the lions’ den?
At school, if there was a disagreement that got out of hand, I had to determine which individuals were volunteers and which were victims…
Daniel’s God protects him; the lions don’t harm him. He survives – body intact, faith stronger. His God has shown himself to be totally reliable. Victim or volunteer? Somehow that seems to be an irrelevant question. What shines through is Daniel’s virtue…
malcolmsmusings.org 
My prayers go out to the loved one who was killed in such a brutal way.
I have never heard the story of the chicken and the pig before, but it definitely gave me something good to think about.
I like your question. I was a victim for too much of my life so I choose to be a volunteer, and do what ever God desires me to do.
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It seems to me, Julie, that sometimes we are victims due to circumstances beyond our control… but sometimes we face difficult circumstances and choose to respond as victims…
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Thanks Malcolm, like Julie above, Id never heard the analogy either – very good. A keeper. xxxx
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It’s a story I’ve heard in various forms, John – both related to work and faith – that can be used with various applications…
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Rebecca’s is a tragic story. To exterminate someone in such a painful way is a horrendous, evil act.
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Both action and motive I find really difficult to understand, Nancy.
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Yes that unfortunately happens. I have learned that it is called victim mentality. Something I have learned on my path to healing from abuse.
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Thanks, Julie. Leaning to heal and to be healed is so important.
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