The Fourth of July: Reflections from Geese

BOOM! CRACK! BANG!

The fireworks launched into the sky. The sky shifted from the dark black of night to a bright red hue. Again another BOOM! CRACK! BANG! From red, to green, to blue, to white! So many colors and flashes filled the night.

"WOOOWHOO!!!" The audience screamed louder than the music that played in the background. A blue laser flashed from one person to another. Glow sticks went flying here and there. People sat everywhere: Couples on benches, families on blankets, little children running around, and all the while there were two flocks of geese. Two families lost amidst the festivities that had occupied their home.

"AHRINK! AHRINK!" the female leader of the Ariel Flock, Robyn, sought to communicate the impending danger to the leader of the Found Flock, Lou. She noticed that some of these humans were getting near the babies. "AHONK!" her mate, Mal, shouted at the young humans walking towards their baby. All at once the Ariel Flock rushed down the hill for safety only to be met by more humans. They slowed down and hesitantly began walking towards their pond. Then a few of the younger geese started to get left behind. As soon as Robyn noticed this she directed the flock to turn back and round up the three goslings. "AHRINK!" No one gets left behind from the flock. She instructed just as the Found Flock, led by Lou and her mate Sal, rushed down the hill after them. Once the two groups were together again their bravery began to rise. They felt more certain that they could find shelter in their land. They could bring their goslings to safety.

"HIYA!" A short human with menacing glow sticks in his hands karate-chopped at the two flocks! "AHONK! AHONK!" Mal and Sal extend their necks outward and waved their head and neck back and forth in the air. They were ready to attack this child creature if need be. Lou and Robyn rushed to be near their goslings. The rest of the family crowded close together, extending their necks ready to attack if Mal and Sal set the alarm. The child took another step closer, Mal hissed, the child laughed. Danger was all around them. Then right as the child was about to get too close and right before Mal and Sal attack...

BOOM! BANG! CRACK! The child's attention was diverted to the bright red, white, and blue up in the sky. The flocks immediately darted away from this child once again in search of where they could rest.

What was a fun and festive fourth of July for many humans was in fact a home invasion and disturbance to the Canadian Geese who live there day in and day out during the summer months. 

I witnessed these encounters this past Fourth of July and it inspired me to know the story of these Geese. To see how they all stuck together and looked after one another was an inspiration that the Church could really learn from. They didn't let one goose or gosling from their flock get lost. They stuck together. I hope to write more on Canadian Geese and their interactions with Humans in the future. For now these are just my reflections from last evening.

He's been Tampered with!

"...and that's how we rescued Julianna from being experimented on, how coffee became illegal, why Coco brought you the bean, why our Kingdom is in ruins, and how the Great War changed everything..." Al concluded his story. As he finished sharing the history of their group Winston looked over at the one who brought us the bean and he appeared to be in some sort of trance.

"Hey man, are you okay?" Winston waved his hands across the one's face and he did nothing. Julianna immediately tensed up and looked towards Joe, River, and Al for guidance. River ran into the darkness in search for something that would help. Joe walked over to the one and started feeling his forehead to see how his skin felt. Al finally sighed.

"It was what I had suspected. He'd been tampered with in the evening, like you had Jules. He can't hear our stories without going into a trance. I had hoped Coco would find him first...but I guess she didn't." Al got a quizzical look on his face and then his face lit up. "River! Get him some coffee."

"Already on it Pa!" she said as she brought over a small, warm cup of coffee. She brought the cup to his lips and slowly poured the coffee down his throat. Within a few minutes he began to reach consciousness.

****************************************************

I looked around as the warm yet bitter liquid gradually settled inside of me. There was something about that drink...that coffee...that had brought me to my senses. I looked around and saw that I was still in this mysterious wooded home, surrounded by strangers who seemed fascinated with this bean that a mysterious woman gave me.

"What happened?" I asked as I began to stretch. It felt like I had been asleep for hours.

"You have been tampered with...by those who are against us and all things coffee." Al explained as River offered me another cup of this interesting brew.

"Tampered with!?" I explained as I accepted the cup and held it towards me for warmth. 

"Yes...it's a very invasive procedure they do on their prisoners. One where once it has been done to you certain topics will put you into a daze...it was discovered during the Great War to prevent prisoners of war from being persuaded to join other forces. They must not want you to know how important you are." River explained

Important I am? Invasive procedure? The Great War? What is happening...Wait how did I even get here? I remember the bean...and needing to find Oliver...but why am I here with Al, River, Joe, Julianna, and Winston...How do I know their names? As I was trying to collect my thoughts Julianna came over and put her hand on my back. "I know it's pretty frightening not knowing how you got places and what you are supposed to do...each time you go into a daze it affects your memory even more. But we will overcome this. In time. If I can overcome it and rescue Winston before they operated on him, then I think you can too." She tried to reassure me, but the more people talked about the situation we were in the more confused I got. 

As I was trying to make sense of everything a cat, bird, and mouse all trotted into the room. What is this world coming too...they immediately went over to Al. The cat curled up on his lap, the bird perched on his shoulder, and the mouse jumped up to his hand, spit something into it, and then cuddled down by his feet. Al analyzed the gift from this peculiar trio and discovered it was a letter.

"It's from Box Manor! They wrote to us because they have found Oliver and Coco. Jimmy says something unusual could happen, but since they are both there we should come out of hiding and go see them." Al explained

"Do you think it's really them? So soon...I mean we haven't even contacted them to let them know we have the bean...do you think it could be a spy?" Joe asked

"Could be Joe, but we'll never know unless we go right Pa?" River responded.

"Unfortunately you are right. If Jimmy felt he should send the trio then they must have found Oliver and Coco. We'll leave first thing in the morning! Winston, why don't you try and explain to our confused friend where we are going." Al directed his attention to Winston and myself. So Winston took me aside and began to tell me all the complexities of Box Manor, the crew that lived there, and how he couldn't explain why but it was very important that I meet Coco and Oliver.

The One who Brought us the bean

The guy with the bean

I am sitting around the fire, eating my warm bowl of soup as the three around me analyze the bean that I had let them see. Sure, I had just met these people, but they seemed to be expecting me and I had been looking for a group called them. This just seemed like I found them....I hope.  

"We have deducted that this is in fact the bean that Coco had. Did you meet her? Do you know where she went?" Al finally asked me having still not explained who they were or why they wanted the bean.

"Who? Coco? The mysterious girl with red eyes that gave me the bean?"

"That sounds like her alright." the young girl chirped in.

"We wouldn't really say we met...she more so gave me the bean and told me to leave...told me to go...South and to find them and Oliver..."

"Oliver! Well, it really was her then. Well boy, did you find him?" Al asked as the other two looked over expectantly.

"Well no...I was going South when I stumbled upon your abode. I just accidentally found your place."

"Accidentally? Stumbled? Oh it's worse than we thought Pa!" the girl explained to Al and immediately I tensed up. What was happening? It's worse than we thought? WHAT?!

"So...I don't wanna dilly dally and waste y'alls time, but you still haven't explained who you are...or whats going on? Why did this Coco break into my house, tell me to go South, and give me this bean?"

"Ah, we have a lot of explaining to do and all of it will come in due time, but let's start with our names. I've told you already I'm Al, but most people call me Pa." Al explained and then gestured to the other two.

"I'm Joe and this is my sister River." Joe explained as River smiled politely, "And you are..." River began, but then a door that I had just noticed opened and a girl walked out followed closely behind by what appeared to be an injured boy. River jumped up and went over to hug the girl, Joe offered a seat to the two, and Al extended his hand to the boy.

"Oh good, it's nice for you two to finally join us Julianna. Hello there Winston, I'm Al." Al reached his hand out to shake Winston's. Winston half smiles and accepts it.

"You know who I am?"  

"Of course we do, Winston. We've had Julianna watching over you for the past few years...well give or take that one year where she went missing." River explained in a dance-like manner as she seemed to hover around them.

"Watch over me? What?"

"Before we get too much into the story it's time for you to meet our other guest Winston...this is the one who brought us the bean!" Winston and I shook hands and I felt oddly ashamed that they were expecting me, but didn't seem to know my name, but had someone watching Winston and seemed to know his name. Was bringing this bean to them all I am worth? As I contemplated all I had heard, I retook a seat next to Winston and Julianna.

"I'm sure you boys are wondering why you are here and what's going on. Did you explain anything to Winston, Jules?" River asked bringing soup over to Winston.

"Not yet, but he knows what coffee tastes like for sure. You were right Pa, Coco had found him too."  Julianna looked admirably at Al.

"Coffee? Yes! That amazing taste...but it almost cost me. Why is it illegal?" Winston asked and my eyes went wide. Coffee? An illegal drink? I had been carrying an illegal bean? What is this? Apparently the others could sense my alarm and River walked over to sit next to me, resting her hand on mine to comfort me.

"It will all be explained soon. Pa I think it's time to tell the Coffee Story. Tell them what happened to the Kingdom. Tell them what Coco is trying to do, how we can help, and what part they have to play." River said and as she said this Julianna looked up.

"Did he find Oliver? Is that not what the first step is?" 

"No...he did not Jules. But, that is okay. They must know. Within time we'll find Oliver and Coco. Tomorrow we will send the messengers to Box Manor to see if they have heard from Oliver. If he's managed to find them then he'll be safe there until Coco finds him. Once she finds him they'll know what to do. Once we are reunited with them then we can plan our next move." Al explained, "Now where to begin our tale? ...Oh yes. It all started ten years prior during at the climax of the Great War."  

Box Manor

Oliver:

"Hey Oli, can you grab extra bread I think we'll have visitors today?" Jimmy asked Oliver as he headed out of our makeshift box hut. Oliver had been living with this motley crew that had welcomed him in for about three weeks now. He felt pretty accepted and part of this little family since that first bite of bread he took. Bread. That was the extent of their meals. Jimmy was the only one out of the five boys of Box Manor--a small "house" literally composed of boxes that different restaurants in the area had thrown out...it was big enough for ten people and so had plenty of space only housing five--who had a job. Jimmy worked for a bread company and was always able to bring home any stale and left over bread items. They mostly drank water, but occasionally Peppers could get some nice, quality bottles of grape juice from the cute gas station clerk he would flirt with. Everyone had a way they could contribute to this little society. Jimmy and Peppers with the bread and juice, Jack collected boxes whenever they needed more, Dan always made sure to have wood for the fire pit, and Oliver now was called the waiter. Since he was the newest to the group until he could find what he was most useful with he was the one would collect things for people. This is why Oliver found himself gathering extra bread for these mysterious visitors.

In the three weeks that Oliver had been a part of Box Manor they had never had visitors. No one had phones and so Oliver had wondered how Jimmy could know that they were getting visitors. Jimmy was like that: He always knew when something new was going to happen. No one knew how he did, but he did. There was something else about this motley crew worth noting. Not only did they all contribute to their community through providing goods, but they all had gifts and skills like Jimmy's. Peppers was a very charismatic speaker and loved to teach the crew new concepts. Jack cared for the group, by that I mean that, he made sure everyone had what they needed and was always there to provide council if needed. Dan liked to start new things. Whenever Jimmy would tell him something new was happening then Dan would start making sure everything was ready for that new event. Oliver was still trying to figure out his place in all of this, but above all else he knew he was accepted here and that was good enough for now.

"Here they come!" Jimmy whispered to the group as Oliver had found his seat around the fire pit. All five boys looked over to see a couple walking towards them. They looked exhausted and confused. What was most surprising to see was that one of the two people approaching was a girl. They never had girls come find them and yet here she was. Dan naturally stood up to welcome them.

"Hi there...is this Box Manor?" The girl asked and Dan nodded his head while asking them if they'd like to sit and have some bread.

"And who might y'all be?" Jack asked most likely preparing ways to make them feel most welcomed, just like he did the first time that Oliver had joined the group.

"I'm Coco and this is my brother Trevor." the girl calmly explained and Jimmy's ears perked up.

"Coco? You're Coco?" Jimmy asked surprised, "We certainly have been waiting for you...have you brought news?"

"That depends...is Oliver among you?" Coco asked and very hesitantly Oliver stood up.

"That's me." and before he could say anything else, Trevor burst out, "Oh Good! We thought we'd never find you. It was hard ya know. Luckily Br...Coco insisted we keep looking." Oliver looked at the other boys and this new couple with a quizzical look.

"Me? You were looking for me? Why me?"

"Of course we were Oliver. You are very important to all of us." This mysterious girl named Coco replied.

Two Teams

Winston:

"Do you have the bean?" I heard a muffled voice ask as I began to reach consciousness. Before opening my eyes I could smell a fire coming from nearby. I opened my eyes hesitantly and found myself looking at my Julianna, my dearest friend who I had escaped from the Monastery with. What happened? I know we escaped but, I don't remember what happened afterwards...did somebody knock me out? I looked around and saw candles lit all around me, I was laying down on a makeshift bed that felt like it was composed of logs and we appeared to be in a cave. I went to sit up, but could barely move.

"Oh good you're awake!" Julianna exclaimed as she reached over to me and rubbed my face with a damp cloth. I tried to speak to her and my lips moved, but nothing came out. What's wrong with me? 

"What's wrong? Can't speak or move yet?" She asked, but I could tell she already knew the answer.

"I'll have you nursed back to help in no time...I bet you're wondering what happened, huh?" She smiled, walked out of sight for a few brief seconds, and returned with a hot cup of something that smelled delicious. That smell...what is it...I have smelled it before...coffee! The forbidden bean. As I realized what this amazing smell was, Julianna began to help me drink it. As the coffee slowly dripped down my throat I began to feel more energized. I felt the caffeine within me. I managed a smile.

"The moment I saw you out of your room at the Monastery I knew that Coco had found you too..." Coco...the mysterious girl in the market place that sold that coffee to me and introduced me to it right before everything else happened...the blood that was on the floor and my forehead...I still don't seem to remember what had happened. "I had heard rumors about you, ya know. While I was locked up I had overheard the Higher Ups talking about you, They kept saying that Ole' Winston was acting up, they were worried about you..." Ole' Winston? Higher Ups? Who the Masters of the Monastery? While she was locked up? Is that where she was? Why?

"Oh, I suppose you didn't know I was locked up...well that's a long story for when you are fully recovered." Julianna smiled at me as she answered the quizzical look in my eyes. She winked at me, "But, you should be recovered soon and then you can meet everyone else on our team. We are so glad we found you. We just need to find Oliver and Coco and we can make our next move." Move? What? Oliver? Team? I wondered again where I was and what was happening, but yet I knew I could trust Julianna. I always had.

************************************

Trevor:

I awoke to find myself strapped to a chair with two men in lab coats staring at me. Where's Stelle? I thought anxiously, but quickly noticed she was in the same predicament right next to me. 

"What do you know? Who are you? How'd you find us?" The taller man asked us.

"We discovered these mysterious doors on our college campus and they led us here...We don't know where we are or anything about this place..." I explained always truthful, I looked over to see Stelle glaring at me. What? Did she want me to lie to these strangers who held us captive...

"Doors? College campus? How? That doesn't make any sense...We aren't connected to any colleges. Are you lying?" The second, shorter, lab coat said. The two men exchange looks.

"This must be something that Director knows about." The taller one suggested and they both left the room without anymore comment. 

"What is happening right now?" I looked anxiously at Stelle.

"Way to tell them all we know! We could've used it as leverage to get more information out of them."

"Leverage? What? Stelle, we have been captured by who knows what and they can do who knows what to us and you want to leverage them?" 

"I don't know Trev it was an idea...better then nothing. What do we do?"

"Anything to get out of here I suppose..." As I was finishing my sentence a tall, stout, professional looking woman walked in. She was wearing a pantsuit and had her brown hair pulled back. This woman must be the Director.

"I hear you two have found the doors to get to our Monastery. I have gone through great lengths to keep those hidden, but clearly I was not good enough. Who sent you?" She addressed us directly. 

"No one, we found it ourselves." I answered truthfully again, "honestly, we just accidentally stumbled upon it." The Director looked us up and down. 

"Interesting...so you're new faces and know nothing about this place..." She said as if she was talking to herself more than us, "Well then I have a proposition for you two...one that may just save your lives."

I looked anxiously at Stelle who gave me a look back that seemed to suggest that whatever it was we were going to be offered, if it seemed to let us go free we should take it...

The Bean.

The wind howled and the cold nipped as I cautiously trekked through the snow seeking refuge. My hands searched for my pockets for shelter only to be met with holes letting the old air in. I looked up from the white, cold ground and was met by the white, mysterious horizon. 

Snow.

It was everywhere. It was freezing. And yet I was not at my destination. I trudged along in my thin-ripped jeans,converses, and tattered winter jacket. I had to find a warm place for the night. I did not know where I was going, but I was told to keep going South. Easy for you to say, it's hard to tell which way is which in this weather. I thought to myself as I journeyed into the White Sea. 

I thought back to the day prior to my voyage to safety...

BANG! I shot up in bed and beheld the most beautiful, mesmerizing eyes I had ever seen. Scarlet Red. Captivating. Drawing me in. "Get up! Get up!" The mysterious red-eyed woman exclaimed. She threw my jacket and shoes at me. "You must go at once! You must leave. It's not safe here. You must find them." I tried to ask what was up, but she immediately put her finger to her lips to sush me. The lady looked around and seemed to be listening for someone. She then took my hand, gave me a small item, and whispered "you must go South. Take this with you. Don't let anyone have it except for them. You'll know when the time is right....but first find Oliver." As she finished saying "Oliver" she walked over to my bedroom window, thrust it open, and as the snow began to blow in, she pointed out. "Go!"

It is strange that an encounter like that would lead someone to leave their home, but the urgency of that voice and the tantalizing promise of those red eyes made it seem like it was the only choice I could make. 

So here I am. Alone. Cold. Going South. 

My hands reached into my pant pocket and pulled out the small item this woman had given me. A small, button-sized, brown bean. What would it become? Nothing in this climate. Where am I taking it? To Oliver. To them. Whoever this "them" is. 

As I aimlessly wondered in the winter abyss, analyzing this brown bean I was gifted with, I stumbled into something. BUMP. Through the harsh snows I failed to see that something was in my path. 

A tree! Finally something tangible and different. It was not just snow...it's something else! 

As I began to look for more trees I saw this was more than just a tree. There were many trees, but it did not appear to be a forest. This was different. As I looked around at these trees I saw what appeared to be a dark enterance. With nowhere else to go and an uncertainty of how many trees there were, I cautiously entered this unknown habitat. As I walked into this dark tree cavern I slowly began to see the white fade away behind me and a darkness enveloped my surroundings. Soon it was pitched black. I had gone from an all white surrounding to an all black one. 

Meow. Chirp. Squeak. The first sounds I heard when I was completely surrounded by the dark. Tom, Jerry, and Tweety. Animals playing in the dark and reminding me of my childhood cartoons.  

And yet something was different about those sounds. I recognized them, but inherently knew they were different. But, what was different about them?  

As I was contemplating this I found that I was walking towards these sounds which kept getting louder. After awhile I started to notice a reddish tint in the distance. As I moved closer I recognized the reddish, yellowish, orange as fire as I began to smell the smoke. 

I picked up my pace. I was almost running to the warmth. When the fire was just a few more feet away I stopped dead in my tracks.

I did not even think about the fact that if there was a fire then there must be people. Who could possibly be this far North? Do they know who I am or anything about this quest for them? As I was thinking this I noticed that there were three people sitting by the fire. All around young. The oldest was maybe 20. Two guys and one young girl. They were all looking at me. They were smiling.

"What's wrong silly? You've come to the right place. Come sit with us and help us plan our next move." The girl said patting the log seat next to her. The younger looking boy looked at me, bent down, and grabbed a bowl of soup to which he reached out to me. "I'm sure you're starving, come eat!"

Confused as to who these people were I stood still. Paralyzed. The oldest, who had a beard that would have better fit someone much older, then stood up and smiled. "Now now you two. Our friend here is lacking the proper memories. I think you may be scaring him." He said to his two companions and then turned to me and offered out his hand, "Welcome to our humble abode, you can call me Al. Please take some soup and let us explain who we are, but first....do you have the bean?" All three looked at me expectingly. 

Which church do you belong to?

Oliver walked into the crowded room and anxiously look around for a seat. He took in the smell of colognes and perfumes mixed throughout the room as the music proclaiming individualistic messages of hope drifted into his ears. He looked towards the outstretched hands and saw the cries for hope. He felt he should be accepted here and yet, he never could. He finally drifted into the back row and as he took his seat he was given a glare as those around him took in his smell. They sang about how they were accepted and now they accept, but he did not feel accepted. He looked down at his mixed matched, rugged clothing that he found lying around the street. He realized he looked like what people here would call a bum from the streets who needs to get a job. Oliver reflected on his week and the four jobs he had worked and how when pay day came he felt he had been cheated of his wages. He did not get what he agreed to work for, but they could do that; because who would believe him?

As the words were sung all around him, Oliver found he could not sing them. He wanted to believe them. He was told he had to believe them, but he could not believe it. These people did not accept him. These people sang these individualistic songs one day a week and then neglected him during the rest of the week. They would not live out these songs. They were not real, but were completely fake. They’d shake his hand every week and immediately apply hand sanitizer as if he did not realize what they were doing. Today he could not handle it. Today he lost his cool. Oliver sulked back out of the room filled with inauthentic light and returned to the streets feeling more alone than ever. He left a room with the most people he has ever been with where he felt more alone than when it was just him.

With a look of dismay Oliver fumbled down the street. He noticed a deranged looking cat prowling through the streets as if it was hunting for something. He smiled and decided to follow the cat because the cat was like him. The cat was searching for something, but Oliver did not know what. He heard a chirp above him and as he looked up and saw the pigeon he knew this is what the cat was hunting, but then he noticed that the cat knew it was there and ignored it. This bird was not what the cat was seeking for it was not good enough. Squeak. Squeek. A mouse zoomed between his feet, but the cat paid no notice. It was still not what the cat was seeking. As Oliver followed this cat version of himself he realized that these three creatures seemed to be traveling together. They all seemed to be leading him somewhere. They seemed like his only friends now and yet they were only animals and could not speak to him.

    

How ironic is it that I would find friends among these creatures that are so unlike me, but I could not find friends among those who are like me. Those who claim to be friends of all. Who claim to love and bring hope?

The smell of smoke drifted to his nose and he looked up from the animals he was following. Up ahead he saw a fire pit surrounded by young teenagers who looked similar to him. They were all dirty, in ragged clothing, and laughing. As he walked closer he noticed they were eating together. They did not have much, but they had a loaf of bread and a small bottle of grape juice they were sharing. It was evident that they could not afford anything else and one could even argue that they could not afford these luxuries they had somehow acquired.

“Hey there friend, would you like to join us?” One of the boys around the fire inquired.

“Can I? You probably wouldn't like me…” Oliver said as matter of the fact, reflecting on every group that had ever rejected him.

“Nonsense! We accept everyone here at the fire pit!”

“How do I know that you don’t just want something from me?”

“You don’t but, why don’t you come, taste and see what this place is like? But first come eat.” The boy held out the loaf of bread to Oliver. For the first time Oliver was asked to come and join people to eat. He was asked to come and belong with people.

As Oliver sat down with the group and took a bite out of the loaf he felt at home for the first time in his life. He knew he would belong here.

Both of these places are “churches.” How often do our churches act like the first place and not the second? Who are the Oliver's in your life?