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The rain had stopped. The clouds were gone and the sun was shining. As I walked along the road, a great gathering of geese flew overhead in two distinct V formations. Soon they were out of sight behind a hill and I began reflecting on how wonderful it was to see these birds flap and float through the air carried in the right direction by some unseen force. In the midst of these musings, I was interrupted by the return of one of these two V formations now flying back over the hill in a new direction. The others had continued on, but for some unknown reason this group had chosen a new direction. I wondered why the same unseen force would be moving two formations of geese in what appeared to be opposite directions. Though somehow I know that in the end they both will be brought to where they are supposed to be. The same unseen hand of heaven that guides these geese can guide all of us to the path that is right. The question is not which one is going in the right direction, but rather what is the direction that the hand of God is taking me. Grace was given to these geese that allowed them to claim the freedom to change direction mid-flight. I don't know why they left the others for a different flight, but then it is not for me to know. However, I think such grace is given to us all. There comes a moment of clarity that arises from within, and then there comes a willingness to give in to what feels right, and finally we find the peaceful awareness that lets you know you are being guided by the hand of God. Once you sense a leading within, the primary task of faith is simply to obey. Usually you can't say why this is the way you should go, you simply know in you heart it is right. The only way any of us get to the far shore of God's intention for our lives is by giving ourselves and one another the same freedom the geese gave to each other. By God's grace we all have the freedom to claim new direction mid-flight. --H.S. |