Birds of a feather DO flock together so they all can soar

It is winter time here in the High Desert of Oregon. The snow seems to come and go, although the cold does remain. Today was one of those days that the sun was shining but it failed to warm much up, stayed just around freezing today. But it was a beautiful day nonetheless. I decided today that instead of heading off into the mountains on a hike that I would walk along the river here in town hoping in my heart to come across some Canadian Geese. And trust me that is a pretty easy task around here if you know where to go. Well, I accomplished that goal and felt like I should share some things with you all.

I spent the last 10 days at a place called the Hoffman Institute, located in California. This "retreat" was a gift from a very dear friend of mine who thought maybe it could help me out. When I left I just saw it as an opportunity to have a place to eat and sleep for about 10 days, not a bad gig when you are homeless and without work. Little did I know that this "retreat", although filled with some of the hardest and silliest stuff I have ever been through and experienced, would absolutely change my life. And most importantly it changed my world view, which is how I know this change is real. I had no idea how much just changing your attitude about yourself could also change your attitude about the world and the rest of the people in it. Anyway, back to the geese...

While I was at this retreat, I experienced this process with 32 amazing people and with 5 expert instructors, who at the beginning of the week I wanted nothing to do with. But by the end of the week I had 37 new, very near and dear to my heart friends...more than that I had friends that felt like family. We had people of all ages, I was the second youngest, and from all places in the United States, oh and not to mention a Swede and a Canadian in the bunch. At weeks end it was hard to leave all these dear friends and go back to the 'real' world. Before we left our teachers shared with us some facts about geese.

Did you know that the geese fly in the V-shaped pattern so they can each share the load of pulling the weight for the whole group? Did you know the ones in the back honk as encouragement for the leaders to keep up the good work? Did you also know that if one goose were to become injured or tired and fell out of formation that two other geese would also break formation and help assist and protect the one that is injured or tired? Well if you didn't know it before you know it now. If you ever get a chance be sure to read the poem by Mary Oliver entitled: WILD GEESE.

This afternoon I was in excellent spirits but to be honest, today I am missing my flock. So I went for that walk and I found a large flock of geese that were flying and swimming along the Deschutes River. As I watched these geese I began to think about all those 'geese' that I had spent 10 crazy days with and then as the flock departed from the river in smaller flocks I began to get excited at the thought of all the new 'geese' I will get to meet in the future that lies ahead of me!

Once I left the park a song I had never heard before came on the radio. It is performed by a Christian band called Sanctus Real (I had to look the song up on the internet). I could not believe the words I was hearing, every single word rang true for what I was experiencing in just that moment. The lyrics of the song are far better than me describing it so here is the song:

WE NEED EACH OTHER
by Sanctus Real

I think I caught a glimpse of
Life without friends
Bitter, empty, hollow, dark and lonely
We never meant to hurt each other
So Can’t we trust again
And take it as a chance
To keep on growing

I don’t know why it doesn’t come easy
But I know that we could be happy
If we’d only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
Cuz no one’s meant to live alone

Life revolves around the need
Of having someone
Causing every complicated feeling
Oh and I don’t want to loose you
And there is nothing wrong with
Telling me what you need
To keep our love strong

It’s just a part of being a family
Taking the good with the bad and the ugly
If we could only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
Cuz I don’t want to be alone

Oh Oh we need each other
Fathers and Mothers
Oh oh we need each other
All your sisters and brothers
Oh oh we need each other
We need friends and lovers
Oh Oh we need each other

Well I need you
You need me
Cuz that’s the way
It’s meant to be
I need you
We need each other
(I don’t want to be alone)

I have spent a good portion of the last few years of my life being alone. It was where I felt safe and happy. I failed to realize that I do need real, authentic relationships with other people in my life. The words to this song say it all, we DO need each other and I DON'T want to be alone. My isolation was my own doing and now that I am aware how counter-productive that way of life is to true happiness and life, I will make every effort to go out and find some new flocks to fly with!

Peace, light, and love to all of you this holiday season...I do truly love you all!