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Friends United Meeting |
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October 2003
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Valiant for Truth By Trish Edwards-Konic One day a farmer found a baby bird. Having pity on it, he took it home and placed it with his newly hatched baby chicks. Time passed and a ranger from a nearby park drove by. He slammed on his brakes, rushed up to the farmhouse door, and exclaimed, "Come and look! You'll never believe it! An eagle is in the chicken pen and isn't bothering the chickens. In fact, it's eating off the ground just like the chickens!" The farmer followed slowly and said, "I know what you're talking about. It's that big bird I raised from a baby chick. But that's no eagle — it's a chicken, and that's all it will ever be." The ranger decided to prove his point. He went into the pen, put the bird under his arm and climbed to the top of the roof. Perched on the edge, he let go. The bird flapped its wings furiously, but landed with a dull thud on the ground. Somewhat dazed, it picked itself up and staggered back to the chicken pen to eat corn. "See," the farmer said. "It's a chicken." Not convinced, the ranger made arrangements to buy the bird. The next morning, he put the bird in the back of his pick-up and drove to a cliff with a sharp drop off. As the sun was rising, the ranger let the bird drop. Again it fell, flapping its wings until suddenly it caught an updraft under its wings. The fall was broken and the bird began to spread out its powerful wings and soar as God had created it to do. This is one of my favorite stories because so many people go through life with their heads down and have low opinions of themselves, just eating corn off the ground like all the other chickens. They never realize God created them to fly high, to follow the dream given to them, to soar on wings of prayer and faith. This issue is full of people who are eagles and are soaring to implement the dreams God has given to them. The temptation to keep our heads down is great — it sometimes seems scary to look up and follow the path God sets before us. We just need to remember three things. God created us for just such a time and the plan is His, not ours. Second, regardless of the circumstances, in Christ we are free to soar. And last, Jesus is with us every step (or flap) of the way. So if the world around you seems to say, "You're a chicken and that's all you'll ever be," don't believe it. You have a Friend who loves you and sees the unique person God created. You were created to soar with the eagles. And you can! Reader Response Wanted The theme of the January 2004 issue will be on family life. Quaker Life is seeking responses to the following questions: Children: What makes your Mom or Dad special? Youth: How does your family help or hinder you in your daily
life of school, friends, etc.? Parents: In what ways do you pass on your faith to your
children even in difficult situations? Anyone: What does "being Quaker" bring to your family life situations? Do you do things differently because of your faith? Photo: Send a family life photo with a caption. These can either be snapshots that will be returned or a digital image of high quality (300 dpi). All responses must be received by November 1 and become the property of Quaker Life. Not all entries will be used. Send to Trish Edwards-Konic, 101 Quaker Hill Drive, Richmond, IN 47374 or email to quakerlife@fum.org. |
COVER STORIES8 Mother's Morning Out: 10 Quaker House at Fifty 12 Catholics Soar; Quakers Decline: 16 Finding a Friend 17 A Call to Movement
FEATURES 4 News from Friends United Meeting 6 News 14 Reader Response 15 Soul Food 18 Outreach Resources 19 Viewpoints 20 Peace Notes 22 Reviews 26 Passages 28 Classifieds 29 Friends United Meeting Member Yearly Meetings
ON THE COVER |
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Copyright (c) 2003 Friends United Meeting