Tag: Good

 Yinney was just preparing to head out on his first six day journey to tell others in the neighborhood about his 7th Day Tree and invite all seekers of peace to visit and have spiritual discussions. However, his plans were suddenly interrupted when Lu-Lu, Me-Me, and Jo-Jo came flying into the tree with wings all a flutter!

“Yinney! Don’t go yet! We think we got it!” Lu-Lu blurted out.

Yinney became motionless except for three slow blinks of his eyes as he tried to understand what the three macaws were talking about? First he blinked one time, then a second, and a slow third. “You got what?” he finally asked.

“We got a name for our Fellowship!” Jo-Jo loudly declared.

“Ohhhh, wonderful! Let’s hear what you have come up with this time? Surely it must be a good one to be as excited as you are.”

“Yes! Yes!” all three happily agreed. “It is the best one yet! It perfectly fits the theme of our message and Fellowship. And with you about to go out witnessing, teaching, and inviting, it would help if you have a name for the Fellowship!”

All three macaws were talking at the same time, but he heard every word and was delighted they were taking such an interest. “Okay, what have you got?”

Suddenly the birds went totally quiet, starring at each other with blank faces.

“We never decided who would make the announcement,” Lu-Lu pointed out.

“I think you should, Lu-Lu,” Jo-Jo said. “You’ve been here the longest.”

“Oh but I couldn’t,” she declared. “That would not be fair. We all worked on this. We all prayed about it. We all agreed it was from God. And Me-Me really thought of it first.”

“But you’re the leader,” Me-Me immediately countered.

Yinney watched in amazement as the macaws debated the issue at a speed he could only dream of. Fortunately, there was no schedule to his journey. This was part of his way, a sacred way, the beauty of slow, in which one can always take the time to appreciate the simple things, like enjoying friends just the way they are.

“We could draw straws,” Me-Me suggested.

“Yes! Lets draw straws! I’ve always wanted to do that! It’s on my bucket list!” Jo-Jo excitedly declared. “The short straw makes the announcement!”

“But why is it the short straw that always is the one?” Me-Me asked. “Why not the long straw?”

Or the middle straw!” Lu-Lu added.

The entertainment continued as the bright blue birds flew about gathering three twigs. Then it required another big decision as to who would mix the twigs and hold them. It ended up being Jo-Jo. Finally it was decided it would be the middle straw. Then the macaws drew. After a very diligent comparison, it was decided Me-Me had the middle straw and would give the announcement.

“Ahem!” she cleared her throat signifying she was about to make the announcement. “We believe…as in us three believe…that being Lu-Lu, Jo-Jo, and I, that a very excellent name for our Fellowship would be…wait for it….wait for it… ”

“Oh come on, Me-Me! Just say it!” Lu-Lu ordered.

“The Fellowship of the 7th Day!”

Now everyone was quiet again. A small gleam could be seen growing brighter and brighter in Yinney’s eyes as he meditated upon the possible name. Other names had been proposed over that past week or so, but all were rejected. This was the longest he had pondered. The macaws grew more anxious the longer he took. Was it really taking him this long, or was he exercising them in patience? One could never be sure with Yinney.

“Are you looking for an answer now?” he asked.

“YES!!!” all three birds loudly responded.

“Well I love it. It’s perfect,” he said. “We shall be known as the ‘Fellowship of the 7th Day’, because God finished all his work in six, and then entered REST on the seventh. Adam and Eve were created on that sixth day, and then entered into God’s REST with him on the seventh. And in that 7th Day REST they lived, resting in God’s finished work, until the rest was destroyed by their betrayal. Yes, it is a very nice summation of the heart of our message. Well done Macaws! I will go forth with our new name, the Fellowship of the 7th Day!”

The macaws were clapping and slapping each other on the back. They were so happy. “We knew it was the one!” they shouted. Yinney declared they should share drinks and celebrate the new name. There was no hurry to his leaving. And so they did.

Only God can watch the drama playing all over the earth at the same time. The individual lives experiencing joy or sadness; pleasure or pain at any given moment. God was aware of Jerry celebrating his latest big deal over a drink at the bar, and he was aware of Dorothy, Jerry’s wife, home alone and bored.

He also saw Rachel tossing and turning in bed, trying to sleep after eye-witnessing an execution. Even the sleeping pill wasn’t working. He saw Clara as she heard her mother get back up and go to the kitchen. He saw Frank leaving the scene of the crime, climbing back into his car and beginning to drive. He would slowly cruise by Rachel’s apartment, wishing he could go in and comfort her, but that would need to wait, still eight hours away.

He saw the macaws up late still working on the Fellowship name, because they wanted Yinney to have it as he went forth. He would watch them share that name with great joy that next morning, as Frank and Rachel drank coffee at a simple table, and she tried to understand how people can be so cruel.

There were no easy answers. At least none that man wanted to accept, as God watched it all, and brooded over his children, both saved and lost alike.