It was a quiet spring morning in New England. Suddenly the music of the songbirds was shattered by a ruckus high in the trees. A red-tailed hawk, not far from his own nest was squealing and ducking as a half dozen Blue Jays took turns screaming and dive-bombing the larger, more powerful bird. 

Mobbing, is a behavior in which a gang of smaller birds harass a larger predatory bird until it gives up and leaves the area. One can often see these larger birds soaring through the air with of slew of smaller birds nipping and pecking at it from all sides. The question immediately comes to mind, “Why would a red-tailed hawk, bald eagle or great horned owl let a bunch of smaller birds, like Jays, pester it? And why would a smaller bird take the risk of attacking these large predators? The answer (as is usually the case when animal behavior and ecology are involved) is complex. Some explanations seem relatively straightforward whereas others are more speculative. Here are three:

• Small birds are afraid for their young, so they take a risk and gang up much like a pack of wolves gang up on a moose.
• Since the smaller birds are agile it is not worth the larger bird’s energy to attempt to kill them. 
• In short, mob intimidation works.
  

Mobbing is often seen in human behavior. Whether it takes the form of protests, lynchings, culture cancelling or viral social media attacks, it seems to work. While there may be some causes worth speaking against, it is often the case that many people involved in mobbings don’t even know why they are there. It can also be true that the person or entity being attacked is superior to its attackers in many ways. 

The most famous and egregious mobbing in history took place two thousand years ago in the public square, in the streets of Jerusalem and on a hill called Golgotha. In spite of His gentleness and goodness, Jesus was mobbed by a crowd who wanted nothing to do with the one true God who came to set them free from sin and death. The mob was fickle and manipulated by elite religious and political leaders who knew how to incite crowds. The mob was wrong, and Jesus was wronged. While the mob appeared to prevail, Jesus not only survived, but he changed the world – in spite of his petty and pesky opponents. 

So how does one navigate a mobbing world? Here are a few suggestions based on Jesus’ example:

• Know who you are and determine to do good in spite of mob attacks.
• Understand that mobbing is not proof that something is right or wrong.
• Don’t give up legitimate beliefs, but expect unjust mobbing.
• When you have a beef, express it respectfully and peacefully.
• When you see a mob, pay attention to who is running the show before joining the cause.
  

Here’s Jesus’ advice for those who are mobbed: “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its’ unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that.” (Matthew 5:43-45 MSG)