CHAPTER 13 >
It was now the seventh day and Flapless could hardly believe how much his life had changed in the high places. He would never go back to his old way of living, but had chosen to live in Eagle ways.
He did not make this choice because it was easier and his old ways very hard. Certainly not, for eagle life required many things and there was nothing easier about it. Flapless was not looking for “easy”, he was looking for purpose, passion, and true meaning. That is what he had found in the white-capped lofty mountains. He never knew he could have a living and vibrant relationship with the All-Knowing Wind, and that Wind could carry him into an incredible life with promises of eternity.
Now it was almost time to take this message of “Flap less & Soar more”, to the people in the flatlands. Tomorrow morning Goliath and he would leap out upon the Wind and descend to the mission field, but today was a day of rest and focus. He had left the fortress citadel of Sky Shadow immediately after breakfast. He wanted to find a place alone, and so he stepped up to the edge, sifted through the currents until he felt the right one and launched.
He was not sure where the Wind was taking him until he saw the huge waterfalls ahead. This was perfect! It was even better than he expected. In no time at all the waterfalls was directly below as he circled above. He knew he would never get use to this. This was worth every challenge he faced, every change he made. A bright colorful rainbow arched through the spray of the water. What a sight.
With his glossy black wings spread wide, he soared into the misty spray of the falls. Water thundered all around against the rocky cliffs ascending upward and higher than the falls, roaring as it searched for escape, filling the cavern with such a powerful presence! This would be it; a place to spend a few hours, think about his mission, praise and pray, and listen to the voice in the Wind.
He was anxious to go back to his home town. He had left in such defeat, but now would return in victory! Everything had come full circle. All the ridicule that had driven him away in search of answers had now worked to his good. Instead of accepting defeat, he had gone on a great quest and the Wind had come to his rescue. Now he would tell everyone he knew about the great kindness and wisdom of the All-Knowing God.
His life had become an incredible testimony of its truth, but he also knew there would be those who refuse to believe. Some of those birds are just bad to the bone, he thought. They do not want their little empire upset, because they have attained a certain position in the world of flapping. They will do anything to maintain their power, even to the hurt of others, even to the denial of a better way.
However, Flapless also knew there would be those eager to learn, and he was going to start a school! What exciting times lie ahead!
He found a grassy spot on a ledge and simply listened to the thundering water for some time, before beginning to praise and pray. Many voices came to him. These were evil winds carrying lies and fear, trying to deceive and distract. There was an evil principality over the kingdom of flapping, and they did not want any Prophet speaking light into their dark kingdom. They loved tormenting the people. It was known by various names, such as “The Rat Race”, “The Treadmill”, “The Daily Grind”, the mind numbing act of going through the motions of life and chasing every distraction in a feeble attempt at some real joy!
But it always fell short of what it had promised, and the victim was always a little more weary and disheartened each time, until they simply gave up and accepted that everything was a big lie, and then eventually you die and it’s over.
Flapless stood upon the promises of God’s Word and defeated the lies trying to deceive him. He rebuked the evil winds in God’s holy name, Jesus, and soon his mind and soul focused, the voice of the All-Knowing One came, and they had fellowship.
The old life he had known as a broken bird who could not fly was passed away. Yes, his wings still did not flap, but he was now a “Disciple of the Wind”, living in the high places of God’s Spirit, walking in the precepts of Spirit and faith, a Godwalker. He was not the same bird that fainted under the tree that day.
Sky Shadow had taught him the way of eagles, but if he grew lax in those ways he could just as easily lose it. He had to stay to the Path of the White Feather, and for this he turned in his Bible to Romans 13:8 and began reading…
“Owe nothing to anyone — except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. (Vrs. 10) Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. (Vrs. 12) The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.”
(Vrs. 13) “Because we belong to the day, we must live descent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. (Vrs 14) Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
These scriptures had come to mean so much to Flapless. This was the simplicity of life in Christ, God’s kind of love. As complicated as man wanted to make things, this was the truth of God’s Word and way, the way of the Way. If we seek to be filled with God’s love, then we will also fulfill his will. There is a peace and rest to the way of the Way.
This was the 7th Day, the Sabbath, the day of rest. Now the Holy Spirit instructed him to live always in this 7th Day. True faith, the Holy Spirit revealed in his heart, is a state of constant peace and rest. This is where God’s people are called to live, in a place of powerful trust and faith. The Law of Moses established a single day each week, but in the New Covenant, the High Priest Jesus established a way in which all days were holy unto the Lord and all days were meant to be lived in this spiritual rest.
Surrounded by the beautiful greenery of this natural sanctuary, Flapless prayed and worshiped God. Great peace filled him. He was no longer interested in the material things of this world. He had found a treasure so much better. He had learned a new way of walking, Godwalking, and in this walking he had become a bird that soared with eagles.
Now the Holy Spirit was showing him the education would continue. The greatest teacher of all lived in him, and he now heard his voice plainly. When he finally returned to Sky Shadow and Goliath that evening, he practically glowed. And indeed, unbeknownst to him, some white feathers had returned for a little time.
“I know that look,” Sky Shadow said. “You’re ready.”
“Thank you for everything you have done for us, Sky Shadow,” Flapless said with a sense of deep gratitude. “I can never repay you for such treasures as you have given me.”
“All glory to the Father,” the great eagle said. “You two were great students. Be sure to visit often, and let me know where you settle in the high places, so I can visit you, too.”
“We will,” they promised.
And so it was as they started up the campfire for one more night, each of the birds rejoiced in the victory that was theirs, and the blessed hope that was to come. There was no lack of joy or excitement at this final meal together, for tomorrow held the promise of great things.
CHAPTER 14
The sun rose the next day right on schedule, and soon the little birds were ready to descend into the lowlands of flapping.
“So what is the first thing you intend to do?” Sky Shadow asked.
“First we will find our friend, Trinity,” Flapless answered.
“Trinity?” the eagle questioned. “Don’t tell me you actually do know a three-legged turtle?”
“Yes! We do! Can you believe it?” Goliath popped in. “Do you know him too?”
“No, but I have heard of such a one. I thought it was just a bad joke. A three-legged turtle called Tripod, who moves at the speed of a snail. You mean to tell me the story is true?”
“It is, but he is not so slow anymore, because Goliath fixed him up with a wheel,” Flapless explained, while Goliath stood there smiling from ear to ear at the thought of it.
“Well I’ll be,” the mighty eagle said. “I would like to meet him some day.
“Did you say eat him?” Goliath asked with big eyes.
“No. To ‘meet’ him,” the eagle corrected with a chuckle.
“Trinity is a little shy around eagles,” Flapless explained, “but we will see what we can do,” and then he stuck out his wing to shake feather-tips with Sky Shadow. They all three promised to see each other again, then Flapless bowed his head as Goliath stood by. They did not know where Trinity would be, but the Wind knew. So when Flapless suddenly leaped, Goliath leaped right behind and they were on their way.
Sky Shadow stood there watching the pair descending into the low places, on their way to fulfill God’s mission. He watched the Wind ruffling their feathers as they flew. Flapless had his wings spread wide and strong while Goliath followed his lead, trusting in his ability to hear the voice and catch the right current from God. Within seconds they were out of sight.
“Can you believe it, Goliath? We’re on our way!”
“Yes we are!” Goliath answered. “Isn’t it exciting?”
Both birds were thrilled with the sense of a great mission, and great adventure ahead. Flapless felt the current of the Wind turning. He could feel the edge of it, and cross winds trying to cut in, but he dare not cross that edge for he had no power to flap his way back to the current from God if he lost it. He would have to land, and then spend precious time tuning back in, waiting for another wave to come along that he could ride. So he had to be very careful and when he would come too close, he immediately made adjustments back towards the center of God’s will.
Soaring on the edge was a fool’s game. It was too easy to accidentally slip over and find yourself in a bad wind.
Now the two birds plainly saw a road was coming into sight.
The Wind shifted with that road, and they found themselves following it.
“Trinity must be somewhere on this road,” Flapless shouted. “Keep a close eye!”
“Aye aye, Captain!” the little wren shouted just before breaking up laughing. “Get it? Aye, aye? You said keep a sharp eye? Get it? I crack myself up,” Goliath declared.
About another five minutes of gliding on the Wind went by when both of them spotted a slow moving dot on the road ahead. “I think our target is coming into sight, sir!” shouted Goliath.
Another ten seconds and there was no doubt it was the box turtle, Trinity, moving slowly but steadily ahead. After another ten seconds they could even see the wheel connected to the back corner of his shell.
“Yup, that’s our turtle,” Flapless confirmed.
Two small dark shadows began circling over the turtle plodding along his way. At first he ignored the distraction, but finally curiosity got the best of him and he decided to stop, blink one time…then twice…then three…before looking up.
“Ahoy there, Trinity!” Goliath shouted, as he was always the more vocal, and most always beat Flapless when it came to the art of idle conversations.
Trinity began smiling from ear to ear, (if turtles have ears), when he saw who it was. “Flapless! You’re flying!” he shouted. “It is true! The Wind gave you answers in the high places! And wow! What are those white feathers shining so bright? Come down! Come down, my friends! You simply must tell me everything!”
And so it was the two birds landed gracefully back on the ground to meet up with their friend and share all the good news. Trinity immediately asked about the white feathers, but they had disappeared after landing!
“Yeah, it’s really weird!” Goliath explained. “It started right after he leaped from the sacred cliff. It was like a little white cape on his back, but then it just vanishes! Sky Shadow says it is some kind of a sign from God, and says he has a touch of the Snow Raven.”
Trinity blinked once and then asked, “What’s a Snow Raven?”
“Mostly some kind of a legend,” Goliath answered, “about a bird that would come bringing good news to one and all. But we really don’t know.”
Flapless had remained silent while Goliath had tried to explain what little they knew about the white feathers. But now he wanted to hear about Trinity. “So how is the wheel working, Trinity?”
“Oh it is wonderful!” he exclaimed, and quickly gave a report on how the wheel was working and how much better he felt in every way. Then they spotted a shade tree nearby and decided to spend the rest of the day catching up on all the details, for obviously, there was much to talk about.
First they told him all about the great eagle called, Sky Shadow, and how he wanted to meet him some day.
“Pardon me,” Trinity interrupted, “Did you say he wanted to eat me some day?”
“No,” the pair chuckled. “He wants to ‘meet’ you!” and again they chuckled over and over about this silly assumption.
“We have been trained in the way of eagles!” Goliath finally shouted with great joy.
“Eagles?” Trinity questioned.
“That is right,” Flapless confirmed, as the conversation began being more serious in nature.
Trinity looked at Goliath who had first said it, then he looked at Flapless who had confirmed it, but neither were now speaking, so he did what he always did when he was not sure what to do, first he blinked one time…then he blinked a second time…and then a third…before asking, “Well, what do you mean? Can a raven, or a wren really live like an eagle? Is that possible?” Now he waited for one of them to answer.
“You go ahead, Flapless,” Goliath said. “You can explain it a lot better than I can.”
“It is so, Trinity,” he began.
“We have been fed a big lie, a great illusion, a parallel perception that is much lesser than the reality God has for us. We have an enemy, and he is known as the great deceiver. He wars against God, and the souls of man.”
“He has tricked us into believing the more we flap and the harder we try, then the more life will reward us, but this is a great deception, for from the very beginning God intended flapping to simply be an aid to soaring, and it is even possible to attain such a mastery as to greatly reduce all flapping! This is what the eagles know! Sky Shadow explained it this way; he said it compares to a game of chess, or the precise strike to cut a diamond.” Flapless paused to see if he understood?
Of course Trinity blinked three times, before asking, “Please explain, how so?”
Flapless then continued, “When our focus is on flapping, and we have little understanding of how to soar in the Kingdom of God, then we are the person who takes five moves on the chess board to accomplish what could have been done in two. Or we are the diamond cutter who is unskilled and does not know how to make a precise strike, or a martial artist requiring ten moves to finish a fight that could have been finished in three. We are never where we are supposed to be when we are supposed to be there. We show up too soon, or too late, but both are just as wrong. Do you see what I am saying?”
Trinity was still slowly blinking.
“God wants to teach us His Kingdom way of living,” Flapless continued, “but an enemy has pulled a false reality over our eyes, and we become the prisoners of what we see, hear, and touch. We spend most our time so distracted by worldly things we do not even know to where and to what God is even trying to lead us. We need light. We need eyes to see in the dark. Our God is the God who said, ‘Let there be light!’.”
“To soar upon an invisible Wind requires letting go of your faith in what you see, hear, and touch. There are higher laws, and a higher way of living. But all those caught up in a flapping lifestyle are caught in a bondage that will never satisfy, and eventually they burn out.”
“Burn out?” Trinity suddenly repeated. “This is so sad,” he said. “I was almost there. I was almost burned out. I’ve had so many bad things happen, but I’ve always kept pressing on, believing I would find a better place someday.”
“When I lost the leg, I just kept pressing even harder than before, believing I could still find such a place. Then the wolves carried me way off course, and they laughed at me, not even caring how easy it was for them to cover many miles in a single day, but how hard it was for me.”
“Then the eagle dropped me in the mountains of all places.”
“I did not expect to ever reach my goal, but then you guys helped me. I was very near to burnout, ready to just give up, but then you said you were here to help, and Goliath made me the wheel.”
“You said the Wind claimed to be All-Knowing, and it was he who had sent you to help me. I began to have hope again, and even joy. It’s all beginning to make sense now, a great deception causing us to miss the real reason we are here, to learn of Him, learn His ways, and walk with Him.”
“Wow,” Goliath said as he looked at Flapless and added, “I think he’s got it!”
Flapless smiled, and a spark flashed in his dark eyes as he very carefully said, “The war is on.”
Darkness was settling in even as they spoke. It was decided to camp under the tree and continue their conversation into the night. And so they did.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Last night had been a time of sharing all the teaching of a flap-less and soar-more lifestyle to Trinity. Now the new day was dawning, the time of reuniting was over, and Trinity wanted to know what the future held, “So what happens now, Flapless? Where are you headed and what do you plan to do?”
“I’m going home,” he said.
“There are people there who need the truth. Goliath has agreed to go with me, and we hope to start a school. There is a godly way of flying, but few people are learning it, because we have so few teachers hearing the voice in the Wind and we have lost our way. We need to ‘slow down’ and ‘hear God’. God offers simplicity, but we have made it complexity.”
“Hhmmm,” Trinity said, and then blinked three times before asking, “And where is home? Is it far from here?”
“It is not so far. It is the town of, ‘Imasomebody’,” Flapless said. “As a matter-of-fact, you’re half way there.”
“Imasomebody?” Trinity repeated. “I know that town!” he said. “I was laughed at in that town many years ago.”
“Yes,” said Flapless, “You don’t want to be a ‘nobody’, in the town of ‘Imasomebody’.”
“That is why everyone flaps so hard to be successful according to the definition of success as written in the by-laws of the town. God’s definition of success compared to theirs, are two very different things.”
“The school Goliath and I intend to start will teach God’s perspective. All will be invited to our school. Many of them are heavily invested in the worldly system they have created, and they will fight us. It will likely get very ugly. They do not want to ‘unplug’ from their false reality. It will be a ‘Truth Storm’. Light invading darkness, and the darkness rebelling against the truth. We are looking for some good spiritual Storm Troopers. Would you like to join us in our mission?”
“Oh I would I would!” the little turtle declared. “If you say I’m half way there, then I should make it in about seven days!”
“Agreed!” Flapless confirmed.
“Yaa!” Goliath rejoiced. He was so excited he actually fluttered in mid air as he rattled off words faster than Trinity could blink!
“We are now a trio! The Three Amigos! The Three Stooges! The Three Musketeers! The Three…??? The Three ‘Flap-no-mores’! What are we going to call ourselves anyway?” Goliath asked, a little breathless and confused.
“Nobody,” Flapless said. “We’re going to the town of Imasomebody, and we’re not worried about being anybody else but ourselves. Got it?”
“Roger that!” the little wren snapped to attention and declared. “Look out town of Imasomebody, because the ‘Three Nobodies’ are headed your way!”
“And you better be scared!”
“The three what?” Trinity questioned, as a different picture came to his mind.
“Lord please help us,” Flapless prayed under his breath.
Once Flapless finally managed to get the picture sparked by Goliath out of his head, he turned to Trinity one more time.
“I have one more thing to tell you,” Trinity blinked as Flapless spoke, “The Wind said he had been trying to speak to you. He had hoped when you lost the leg you would have gained your spirit ears, as he called it. He says you also have a message in you.”
“I do?” Trinity asked in great dismay and eyes locked wide open.
“Yes, something he called ‘Turtle Faith’. He said it was very important he speak to you. So do your best to listen in, Trinity. Don’t worry about getting to Imasomebody. You will get there right when you’re supposed to if you let God order your steps.”
“Oh my,” Trinity said, and his eyes blinked again.
Goliath stood quietly by, taking in every detail of what God was doing, and wondering what might lie ahead for him?
Now Flapless had yet to attempt a take-off from the flat ground, and he was a little worried. It was one thing to be in the high places and leap out upon a well-defined current of Wind, but quite another to stir one up from ground level.
So he reminded himself, “Now what did Sky Shadow tell me to remember? The mountains are just a symbol, a physical picture of a spiritual truth. We can be in the high places anytime we want, even if our feet are flat on the ground. The high places are within us, in our soul and in our spirit. Begin to worship, praise, and pray. Always practice the three P’s of Praise, Prayer, and Promises. The Wind will come and lift you up. Okay, Flapless, he said to himself, it is time for another test.”
Goliath and Trinity watched the glossy black raven pacing back and forth just a little ways off from them where he had some privacy. He had explained what he needed to do, but this was untested, and therefore he was not sure of his ability. He asked for them to be in prayer, but so far they were so caught up in the drama of it all that very little praying had been done.
“What do you think, Trinity? Can a bird with broken wings take off from the flat ground?”
“It should not be so,” the turtle sighed. “I have never heard of such a thing ever being done. Of course, if he fails, then it will be pretty impossible to preach his message in the town.”
“Right you are,” Goliath agreed and then remembered, “Maybe we should pray like he asked us to?”
Flapless was already praying. He was in a world of his own creating and did not even know what Goliath and Trinity were doing. He was progressing steadily through deeper and deeper chambers of Spirit, into the Holy of Holies.
His worship had turned to prayer, and now his prayer was turning to promises, “They that wait upon the Lord,” he declared, “shall mount up with the wings of the eagle,” he could feel something building, but he was no longer working at it, because his spirit was so caught up in the power of God’s presence that it had become a river he had no desire to shut off, free-flowing, no longer an effort to stir up, it was here and growing!
What had started as a trickle was becoming a mighty river!
“They shall run and not grow weary,” he continued, “they shall walk and not faint!” A supernatural lifestyle he reminded himself.
Suddenly there was the sound of a rushing mighty Wind sweeping him off his feet and almost taking the breath right out of his chest! It was so sudden he had not expected! Before he knew it he was airborne!
“Wow! Did you see that?” Goliath shouted.
But Trinity could not answer, for he was totally speechless and blinking innumerous times, as he watched the dark raven shooting across the air like an arrow shot from a bow!
Goliath was just the opposite. He was running around like a chicken with his head cut off with his mouth talking non-stop! He was a jabberjay! He was all a-flutter! Grounded one moment and bouncing in the air the next! He was beside himself and only a slow moving turtle to share the moment with.
“I need a rabbit!” he shouted as he bounced upward once more.
“What?” Trinity asked surprised. “I did not think wrens ate anything but worms?”
“No!” Goliath yelled. “I ‘need’ a rabbit to talk to! Someone who can conversate at the speed of light, before I blow a gasket!”
However, Flapless was not gone long when he was spotted coming back through the clouds on his way to join Goliath. “C’mon Goliath!” he shouted. “We’ll see you when you get to town, Trinity! Whenever that may be!”
Goliath flapped his wings and instantly lifted off to join his mentor in the sky. It was true that flapping was a lot less time consuming for leaping into your day, but soaring had other benefits more than making up for the investment required to maintain a place in the high places.
Less than an hour of soaring was all that was required for the town of Imasomebody to begin appearing on the horizon.
Flapless was coming home, and he was coming riding upon a sacred Wind. He was coming to his own, and he already knew most of his own would not be happy with his apparent “success”, for it was not the kind of success they approved of.
To make it even worse, not only had he gone on a great quest in search of answers, not only had all the scoffers claimed he must be cat food by now, not only was he returning alive and with answers, but he was not flapping! How could a bird with broken wings be flying? How could a bird fly in the lowlands without flapping? What strange thing could this be?
Now the town had lookouts posted at the four corners of the city, and as they spotted a black dot flying straight at them, they sent out a general alert, because no one was supposed to be in that sector at this time. Was a visitor coming to town? The little wren could not even be seen yet.
A fifth tower, known as the Gate Tower, caught the alert and quickly grabbed the binoculars to check the approaching unidentified object. The Gate Tower was the first to see the smaller bird with the black bird. They were also the first to see that neither bird was flapping!
The alarm was immediately upgraded from a general alert to an “All-Hands-On-Deck!” alarm of the highest order! Until now it was only eagles that ever swooped over them in such a manner, so what could this possibly be? Such a strange sight indeed, eagles disguised as some other birds? Nothing in their training had prepared them for such a thing as this!
Flapless and Goliath were approaching the city walls when squadrons of ravens lifted off and entered the sky intercepting them!
Flapless knew the military leader as a very hard bird known as, General Deathlock! He only knew him by reputation, for he never would have lowered himself to even be aware of the Flapless who left town, a broken and defeated bird too ashamed to stay anymore, or at least that is what he would have been told. But now here he came, full-speed ahead, backed by trained forces to intercept any threat and deal with it!
Flapless began circling, and Goliath followed his lead. “I’ll do the talking,” he said. They were surrounded by what seemed like a thousand shiny black flapping wings in no time at all, but Flapless just kept circling, waiting for a spokesman to appear, and it turned out to be General Deathlock himself!
“Identify yourself, stranger, before I order you blown out of the sky!” the General commanded.
“My name is Flapless!” he shouted, “and this is my friend, Goliath!”
“Flapless?!” he heard his name being repeated over and over again through the ranks; and it was spreading like wildfire! If there is one advantage to being the joke of the town, it is that a lot of people know who you are.
“It cannot be,” some were saying. “He’s supposed to be dead! Is he still flapless?”
“How can he not be flapping his wings? Flapless could not flap his wings, but how is this bird flying? Has anyone ever seen such a raven before?” The General was aware of the rapidly building tension and knew he had to get a handle on this quickly.
“You will come with us!” he demanded, darting in as if to attack!
“I will not,” Flapless answered as calmly as possible, while fending off the attack, “For this is my home; I am a citizen of Imasomebody. I have broken no laws. I am free-born! I am not enslaved to your flapping ways,” he challenged.
“Why you insolent stupid bird! How dare you insult the way of this city! For that alone I could have you arrested and put to trial! Every bird here could testify against you!”
“What law have I broken, General? Have the laws been changed since I left? Have you actually made it against the law to not flap?”
Flapless felt the General’s temperature rapidly rising, for it seemed the Wind was giving him wisdom in all his answers, and even he was shocked by his own boldness while in such obvious danger. Even now Goliath was checking for emergency exit signs just in case this whole thing blew up, which it was about to do!
“Seize them!” General Deathlock suddenly shouted, and a thousand black wings began darting in, each having shackles in their talons, ready to bind!
So far Flapless had simply been declaring whatever he heard in his heart from the Wind, so he had no real plan for what was about to happen next. However, the All-Knowing Wind did, and it was time to upset some well-established lies of the enemy. Many witnesses were watching the show above with great wonder, and also questioning if this could possibly be the bird who walked away many months ago?
Birds were gathering everywhere to watch the show in the sky. Word was spreading like wild fire. This was going to be a public relations nightmare for General Deathlock. He had to do something.
Suddenly, the air current Flapless had been riding shot upward at a speed impossible for any flapping creature!
The strongest and fastest of the General’s trained soldiers gave pursuit, and for a few seconds managed to stay close, but as strength quickly left them from the great effort, they fell embarrassingly behind.
But they had to keep going. They had to keep trying, because the only alternative was to return in failure to General Deathlock, and no bird wanted to do that! So their struggle continued as they fought to climb higher! How was the bird doing this? Even the wren had fallen behind and occasionally flapping, but this raven with the broken wings, how was this possible? How was a raven soaring where only eagles go?
And then something really strange happened, something no one was expecting, not even Flapless! A bright light began to shine, and it was as if he turned completely white!
Nobody was laughing now, not even Flapless, because this was serious business. No one could explain what was happening before their very eyes! The soldiers were rapidly losing ground as never a raven had flown so swiftly into the sky! Goliath tried even harder, and though he managed to evade the soldiers, he too was quickly left behind by the bird called Flapless!
He was not here for vindication, revenge, or to seek his own glory, but word needed to get out that a new way of living had come to town, and there was no way the media was going to put a lid on this!
Even if the soldiers could all be silenced, which they could not, but even if so, too many eyes on the ground were watching this incredible drama playing out. Too many ears had heard the name Flapless being repeated in disbelief. The genie was out of the bottle, the truth displayed for all to see! But that did not mean everyone would stop flapping and change their ways. No sir, Flapless knew the Truth Storm had just begun, and General Deathlock would be desperate to get control of the situation, which would also include the media.
He would fly away for now, and wait for those who would come to him in the desert. The General was already looking foolish enough. He would be very careful to pick his battles after this. There would be those among the common people, the nobodies, who would want to know more, and they would come, and the light would grow.
Flapless had kept an eye on Goliath, fearing they would capture him in hopes of forcing a surrender to save his friend. He was prepared to swoop down for a rescue if need be, but Goliath had just barely gotten high enough, quickly enough, to make a narrow escape. Now a raven suddenly turned white and a little wren were quietly soaring over the city, like eagles, making sure that one and all beheld the sight, as they disappeared into the wilderness to the north of, Imasomebody.
By the time Flapless was out of sight and ready to land, he had strangely enough returned to his normal colors once again.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN!!!
“No fire tonight, Goliath,” Flapless said. “We got to let things settle down a bit. We announced our arrival, and now we let nature take its course. They will not be able to stop the people from talking about what they have seen. I guess all those years of being the joke of the town was actually working to God’s advantage, and I did not even know. People know the name, Flapless, but we are here to teach the message of flapping less and soaring more.”
Goliath responded, “Boy, I’ll say we announced our arrival alright. I thought those boys had me for sure! I was plenty worried there for a minute, but Sky Shadow’s training paid off, and I’m happy to say I am still here with you.”
“And I’m happy that you are, too, Goliath. I’m the one they really want. I want you to play a more ‘undercover’ part from this point on. People saw you, and they will listen if I send you in secret to certain ones. They know you are with me.”
“In secret?” Goliath asked with excitement. “You mean like a secret agent?”
“Exactly, my friend, exactly.”
“Cool!” Goliath almost shouted. “For once my size can be an advantage! ‘Ninja Wren!’ That will be my code name, okay?”
“You got it, little buddy. Ready to get some sleep?”
“I sure am.”
“I’ll take first watch,” Flapless said, “Two hour watch on first shift; then we will do three hours. See you in two. Good night.”
“Good night. See you in two,” and Goliath closed his eyes.
Flapless climbed up to a higher position on a rock. He surveyed the environment around them. It was basic wilderness, with heavy vegetation in some areas, desert places in others, high grounds and low grounds.
This spot was just inside some vegetation, with a view of open desert. The desert lay towards the city. Some would come seeking, and they would make an effort to connect with those who came. The school would be in the wilderness until such a day the movement grew strong enough they could begin invading the city with small underground groups in homes.
Flapless had no trouble passing the time while his mind pondered how he would like to teach this “Flap-Less & Soar-More” lifestyle. He saw a building, very plain and simple, but efficient, and resembling a small mountain. There was a board in the room to write on, just like in a school, for this was a school, a school of higher learning for higher ways. What would he write on that board for seekers to read?
“Flap-Less & Soar-More”
Isaiah 40:31 / John 3:8
Practice the 3-P’s!
Praise – Prayer – Promises!
Phillipians 4:6-9 / Psalms 119
Romans 13: 8-14 > Right living through the power of love, not rules.
Why flap when you can soar?
Why fight an All-Knowing Wind?
Yes, such a delight it will be to teach these things. His black eyes shined like two obsidian stones as he pictured the white board and black markings of God’s Word. Satisfied with this, his thoughts departed from the board but continued thinking. He gazed into the dark night, searching for any approaching enemies, but the real enemy could not be seen with the human eye, or even a bird’s eye.
The world system is our enemy. The world has invaded the church too, and turned it into a “system”, not a relationship. The people we are here to help are mentally and physically hooked on that system. Many of them are not ready to leave what is familiar, for that which is uncertain.
They have much invested into this system, and will not give up their life of ease and pleasure for a life of ultimate good, embracing their Creator. They are hopelessly dependent on the system, birds in cages, unable to think free, too scared of the personal responsibility that goes with freedom. Unwilling to leave a grid box, a dead-end street.
They will cling to their false perception of reality.
This system has Gate Keepers. These Gate Keepers can manifest and move through anyone still connected to the world system.
I must always remember who the real enemy is. They are spiritual wickedness set in high places, principalities, and rulers of darkness. But their strength and power is still set in a world that God has established! In Christ we have been lifted to higher places, if only we believe. All things are possible for those who believe.
There will always be those who live their lives oblivious to reality, ignoring God’s truth, straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. They will not believe a perfectly painted picture could ever result from the explosion of a paint factory, and yet they believe all of creation is the result of a complete accident that sparked an explosion out of total nothingness?
They strain to swallow a gnat, but easily swallow a camel. They gag on the truth, but savor the lie as it slides down so smoothly, like snake oil.
These are the ones I am called to. These are the ones we are called to love, and risk our life for. I will do that by remembering who the enemy really is.
and by remembering who God really is.
There is no greater calling than to lay down this life for the one to come. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
He could see some of the lights of the city in the distance, the city of Imasomebody, where flapping is glorified and God is ignored. “I bring this storm to your gates, General Deathlock. A Truth Storm that once unlocked cannot be stopped. This day we have unlocked that box.”
Suddenly the Wind swept through, lifting Flapless into the dark sky where a raven is very hard to spy. He swept around the land, he checked the desert sand, but no sign of an enemy was found. Deathlock would be scheming. He would choose his next move well, but a raven soaring in the night would be watching, like a watchman in a tower. Let the Ram’s horn blow, let all the world know, Jesus will come for his own! From the high places they are called, his people hear his voice, and soar!
The next day…
Trinity had stared into his campfire way into the night thinking about what Flapless had said, “The Wind speaking to me?” He now understood how it could be so, and he would not have even noticed with his eyes always set on the next destination just ahead, as he struggled to get there. These thoughts filled his half asleep mind as he slowly woke for the new day.
With the struggle always before him and deep bitterness nipping from behind, he had been a very driven turtle, but not driven for the right things. Now he was sad he had missed it, and knew he had to forgive all the hurts he held inside his shell.
That night his fire had been a place of letting go and forgiving. He assumed when he woke the next day he would begin his journey to Imasomebody, but having been up so late, he also slept late, and when he awoke and poked his head out of his shell he discovered a Morning Glory had sprung up out of the ground right in front of his face! “How did this grow so quickly?” he asked himself.
As he stared at the beautiful flower he really gave it no thought when he said, “Good morning, Morning Glory. So good to see you today.” His words were only an unconscious reaction to being alone and the flower just happened to be there, but when a voice answered back, Trinity froze in place rapidly blinking!
“Good morning, Trinity, I have been looking forward to speaking with you for a very long time.”
“Whaaat?” Trinity’s mind raced. “Did the flower just speak to me? Flowers do not talk!”
“No Trinity, it is I, the Wind.”
<<<>>>
Now back in the town of Imasomebody where the day was just getting rolling, everyone was abuzz with talk and speculation. They all had their opinion as to what was going on and could hardly wait for the morning paper to come out so they could read, what they assumed would be, an official account of what took place in the sky over their heads yesterday.
And so it was as the paper hit the newsstands the lines were backed up to get their copies. Those who had home deliveries rushed to their mailboxes to pull it out and return to their cup of coffee inside as they hurriedly searched for the headline and wondered what it would be?
“EAGLE INVASION!”
The headline screamed the official explanation coming from General Deathlock himself! According to the article, two eagles had somehow managed to disguise themselves as smaller birds in an attempt to invade the city. However, General Deathlock and his brave soldiers had managed to expose the birds and drive them away before any harm could be done.
Of course, the obvious question was how could large eagles fit into such small suits? But here was the official paper saying it was so. Surely the expert investigators and expert journalist would not print lies? So it must be so? Were they miniature eagles? And why was there no mention about the white feathers? Mystery upon mystery, it seemed. And so the rumors and speculations grew even more.
The official Church, which had become a place of much flapping also, tried to calm their people by simply ignoring the whole thing. “Stay asleep,” they advised, “Don’t worry about such things.”
Meanwhile, Flapless and Goliath were in the desert praying, waiting for those who would not be satisfied with fake news, but would pay the price of seeking truth! “The answer lies in the desert,” rumors said in the night. “He waits out there for those who will come,” it was whispered in dark alleys.
“Has anyone gone? Does anyone know?” Questions secretly drifted throughout the town of Imasomebody, and finally it was heard that one had gone, and one knew, but was hiding in fear for his life, because the General wanted to talk to him.
Some had met this bird in secret, and he said it is so, “Flapless waits in the desert for whosoever will come. Put a light in your window at night, and his messenger will come to you with instructions.” Or so it was said, anyway.
<<< >>>
Flapless knew it was time to create some kind of a structure to teach in, “A structure of coming together,” he spoke out loud.
“A what?” Goliath asked, overhearing his words.
Flapless was slow to answer, as if pondering something, and then he asked a question of his own, “Have you ever seen a Teepee, Goliath?”
Well…you can imagine what that question sparked in a little bird called, Goliath!
The End
“From the Author”
If this story has affected you, then I recommend you continue feeding your soul what it needs. Why flap when you can soar? Why resist an All-Knowing God/Wind? He will speak to you through his word and through his Spirit.
The story of Flapless will continue, in the meantime, be a Mary, not a Martha. Sit at the Lord’s feet and hear ye him. The dishes will get done. The car will get fixed. Your ministry will happen. All will be as it should be. Set your priorities upon Spirit, not flesh, and all these things will be added to you. When I am weak, then am I strong. Holy Spirit, master me. Amen.
I hope this simple story of a bird with broken wings, a wren that thinks big, a turtle with three legs, and an eagle called Sky Shadow has helped you see and hear God. If it is so, then I am a happy and fulfilled man.
Sincerely, Don Allen.
A bird called: "FLAPLESS" 