(image credit: Mari Jones from Journey of a Million Miles)
“Oh, hello there. My name is Rodney. It’s nice to see you. I don’t get many visitors. Most people see the mask and think I am bad. I must tell you, I am not! At least most of the time. I am honest if nothing else. My mom always told me honesty is the best policy.”
“Come on down and have a sit. I don’t have rabies or anything. My uncle Phil had rabies but he is long gone. Only one in the family to get rabies but everyone usually thinks we are all rabid. It’s like your family. I bet you have one bad apple in that tree. Does everyone think you are bad because of them?”
“Let me tell you something else. We eat a lot of different things from pesky insects and small rodents to fruits and nuts. Yes, that was me in your trash can the other day but I could not find any other food. I had to feed my family. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do. You know how many of your kind I have seen trying to find food in trash cans. It’s sad if you ask me. I mean me, I’m an animal and I don’t have anyone looking after me except maybe my near family. Your kind though, you throw away about half the food you eat. I see it in your trash cans and land fills. Shouldn’t you be helping others of your kind out instead of throwing it away? How about buying less so there is less to throw away and using that extra money to give to a food bank or something? I once helped a deer out. Not typical for me but I just could not eat anymore berries so instead of tossing them to the ground, I gave them to the deer. Next time you see that homeless guy, look past what you see and feel what’s in his heart. You won’t miss that dollar or that sandwich you give him. Maybe even your heart will grow three sizes that day if you did.”
“The mask? What’s up with the mask you ask? Take a look around you, everyone wears a mask. Some you just see easier than others. My mask is for me to be able to see better at night. Look at that person over there? Do you think her mask is to protect her from her past? She would love to take off her mask, get rid of her past mistakes but she is too scared to take it off. You don’t see a mask? Trust me, it’s there. Look at that guy. Do you think his mask protects him ? He looks like he is big and tough and can take on the world but inside he is hurting, he is begging to be loved, he is a big softy but no one will ever see that. That little girl over there? Yes, another mask. She tries to put a smile on and be happy but I see her eyes. Her pain. She gets yelled at everyday. Her parents fight all the time. She doesn’t think she is worth anything. That’s sad to see a mask on someone so young. I think you humans can do better. Take off the mask. Like my mom always said, honesty is the best policy. It will release so much stress and hurt.”
“What? You thought I was an animal to stay away from? Why? Because of my mask and the rings on my tail. Really? Take a look around you. Do you stay away from everyone that looks scary? The guy with all the tattoos? He is the nicest guy I ever met. The black man over there gave me his leftover food one day. I took that right home to my kids. They were so thankful. The white guy over there killed a snake one day and brought it over near my home. I eat anything. Dead carcasses are sometimes my favorite. The Asian guy over there came right up to me one day, just like you did today, and just started talking. I sat there and listened. The Muslim lady over there wept with me one day when my youngest baby was hit by a car. I don’t discriminate. I need all of you to survive. Sometimes I help you, sometimes you help me. That’s the way it should be. ”
“It doesn’t matter who you are. I will come up to you. That scares most people who only see my mask. Do you know I have a friend names Jesus who was the same way? He talked to everyone, and there were people who were afraid of Him. He only wanted to teach people about His father and the love He has for all of us and how we should treat others. Yet, people were afraid of Him and had Him crucified. He died for all of us. That includes you. Isn’t that awezing?”
“What? That’s not what you are taught. That’s a shame my friend. A real shame. I can call you friend, right? That’s what you are to me. I think you should take my words to heart. Go out and look at what’s inside a person. Get to know them. Get past the masks and the colors. You might be surprised what you find.”
“Have an awezing day my friend. What’s that? You don’t know what awezing is? Oh, that’s a word I made up combining awesome and amazing. See, never know what you will find once you get to know someone.”
(image credit: Laura Ross)
Walking Blind by Javier Colon –
Chosen Ones by Blanca –
Get To Know Me by Mateo –
Colors of the Wind by Tori Kelly –
Heal The World by Michael Jackson –
Where Is The Love by The Black Eyed Peas –
Unite by 1GN –
World Changers by Matthew West –
Love Feels Like by TobyMac –
Rainbow Connection by Gwen Stefani (original by Kermit the Frog) –
This was my dream. Leave my life and everyone I know and head to the city. This was my dream and not theirs. I packed my bags and headed out. I saw the tears fall in my rear view mirror. They weren’t my tears but theirs. I pulled out of the driveway and headed to my dream.
I stood on the corner and watched the world go by. How many people have stood right where I am? How many have walked this same street? I believed I was meant to be here. I was going to make my dreams come true.
I worked hard. Harder than most. I sung my heart out. I wrote words that touched those that heard them. I carried a smile everywhere I went. But my faith was wearing thing. My hope was fading with the sunset. I was tired. It felt like no one else believed in my dream.
My heart was turning into the concrete I walked on. My lungs were polluted with the black of darkness that consumed this town. My thoughts were flying with whatever direction the wind blew. Every no was shaking my soul to the core. Why was I here? I didn’t even know anymore. Somewhere on these dirty streets I lost who I am.
I only needed one yes. One person to believe in me. One break. One…
I stood on the corner and watched the world go by. I thought about stepping off the curb and into traffic. I just stood their with my eyes closed and my heart exposed. Everyone walked by and didn’t say a word. If they only knew how close I was. One word was all I need. One word, one touch, one….
My phone rang. Mom. She always knew. How did she always know? It was time to go home. Not to give up on my dreams but to do a restart. I needed to go back to where I was loved. I needed to find me again.
I pulled in the driveway and saw the tears fall in my rear view mirror. This time they were mine. I let them fall down my face.
I was sitting in church and some of these words started coming at me. I said no God, I can’t write about this. Even though all the Birds stories are based on real-life events, I can’t write about this one. God was silent until I got home then the words started coming again faster than I could write them down. I don’t know if the right words were written down, I tried to remember them as they were coming, but I hope I can bring some healing to the tragedy. So…..
The vulture thought for a time
Then he thought this must be a sign
The hawk has abandoned me and our plans
I must now bring havoc to the land
He waited and waited for the day
He flew to the top of the Mandalay Bay
He let his hate fly through the air
Who they hit, he didn’t care
In the lives he took he didn’t realize
That heroes were there to save lives
That love was still there even in the hate
For some, healing would be a long wait
The eagle and hawk stood together
These birds of different colored feathers
The eagle spoke first:
“Our land seems to be cursed,
From one tragedy to another tragedy
From one community to another community.”
“When times like these feel like the worst,
I implore us, everyone, all of us birds,
When it is so hard to see past our grief
When it is so hard….so hard to see,”
His voice cracked as he spoke
“We must never, never give up hope!”
“This tragedy truly breaks my heart,
But I know a light will shine from the dark.”
“Let us remember the ones that have been lost,
A senseless tragedy that has a great cost.”
“But let us learn from this tragedy,
There is a power inside you and me.”
“We must continue to let our light shine
For love has been here since the start of time,”
“Love was here then and love is here now!”
“I will, we will show love and that’s our vow.”
“We will not hide, we will not be afraid!”
We will not sit quietly, tomorrow is a new day”
Then the hawk let out a deep sigh
A tear escaped his eye
“Dear hate, you held me captive for many years
And I let you because I had so many fears.”
“I feared that I was not worthy of love.”
“I believed in this world and not God above.”
“I was public enemy number one,
And I can’t change all the bad I have done.”
“But I changed my thinking and I changed my heart,
And that’s when I escaped the dark.”
“Hate, you will not win!”
“We have a greater love within.”
“Birds, we must continue to make a better tomorrow.”
“We cannot be overcome by our sorrow.”
“We will overcome, good will come from this tragedy.”
“Change starts with love, change starts with you and me!”
Then the hawk and eagle joined wings
Friends had been made out of enemies
We cannot undo what has been done
We must let love rule, we will overcome
We will not let racism and hate destroy our land
We will show compassion, be virtuous and let love be our stand
My God, My Music, My Life 