The Fancy Fan
Nature NuggetAnalogy★★★★The peacock, a male peafowl, has iridescent blue-and-green feathers. But what really sets him off is his long train of green covert feathers. Dotted with big eyelike spots, they trail wherever he goes.
When he wants to attract a female, he can raise his tail feathers to look like a fancy fan over his back. Then he struts, rattling them in a proud display. Back and forth he swaggers, keeping the glistening front side of his feathers toward her.
But my mom used to say, “The peacock wouldn’t be so proud if he could see the under part of his feathers!” The back of the feathers looks like a bunch of dull, pale sticks!
My mom would make this remark when one of us kids began boasting. It made us think twice about showing off and trying to appear better than someone else.
Obadiah made this remark to some people: “Your pride has fooled you. . .. And you say to yourself, “No one can bring me down to the ground.” . . . But I will bring you down from there,’ says the Lord” (ICB).
Watch out that you don’t think too highly of yourself. You may be forced to see what’s really under your bright colors!
TRY IT: In your next conversation, how long can you avoid using the words “I” or “me”?
Elaine Egbert, Nature in a Nutshell: Daily Devotions for Juniors, 116.
The point
The peacock's gorgeous fan hides dull, pale undersides, illustrating how pride and boasting can be foolish. The lesson applies Obadiah's warning that pride will be brought down.