Zen & The Art Of Feeding Geese
Thank you, FS, for 500 posts!24 total reviews
Comment from Father Flaps
I'm sorry, Jim. I don't have any more sixers. But your story surely deserves one. I'll owe it to you, how's that?
This lead guitarist is missing his wife, CeCe, I think. He believes his reward is all the women that cheer for him while he's playing. But he's finding it less and less satisfying. There must be more to life.
I'm not positive, but guessing that the old man feeding the geese is really an angel on a mission. I believe in angels, that they come to this earth on a regular basis, doing God's bidding. And the old man was teaching the lead guitarist that he's missing out on the real meaning of life. The old man knows that the limelight is fleeting...
"You'll find even those moments are soon fleeting. Then you realize you really have nothing. Nothing at all."
I play guitar in the worship team at Lancaster Baptist Church here in Saint John. Every Sunday morning before the service, we pray before hitting the stage and grabbing our instruments, that people will hear the message in each song, that even one will hear God's voice for the first time, and that the Christians in the congregation will be blessed. It's not about playing my guitar as well as I can. Nor the drummer playing his drums and never missing a beat. Nor the keyboardist. Nor the bass guitarist. It's about the words of the song that the music carries to the gathered worshippers. We are just vessels that God uses for His great purpose. If we can help usher someone into the Kingdom of God, that's our limelight. And it doesn't go away. It isn't fleeting.
John 3:30 says "He (our Lord) must become greater, and I must become less." This was John the Baptist talking about Jesus.
That must be our motto as Christians. Jesus must increase, while I decrease. We need to be humble. The old man was being humble in feeding the geese everyday. And I need to be humble in playing the guitar in the worship team. So much more reward to doing the Lord's work.
Nicely penned, Jim!
Blessings,
Kimbob
  |
I'm sorry, Jim. I don't have any more sixers. But your story surely deserves one. I'll owe it to you, how's that?
This lead guitarist is missing his wife, CeCe, I think. He believes his reward is all the women that cheer for him while he's playing. But he's finding it less and less satisfying. There must be more to life.
I'm not positive, but guessing that the old man feeding the geese is really an angel on a mission. I believe in angels, that they come to this earth on a regular basis, doing God's bidding. And the old man was teaching the lead guitarist that he's missing out on the real meaning of life. The old man knows that the limelight is fleeting...
"You'll find even those moments are soon fleeting. Then you realize you really have nothing. Nothing at all."
I play guitar in the worship team at Lancaster Baptist Church here in Saint John. Every Sunday morning before the service, we pray before hitting the stage and grabbing our instruments, that people will hear the message in each song, that even one will hear God's voice for the first time, and that the Christians in the congregation will be blessed. It's not about playing my guitar as well as I can. Nor the drummer playing his drums and never missing a beat. Nor the keyboardist. Nor the bass guitarist. It's about the words of the song that the music carries to the gathered worshippers. We are just vessels that God uses for His great purpose. If we can help usher someone into the Kingdom of God, that's our limelight. And it doesn't go away. It isn't fleeting.
John 3:30 says "He (our Lord) must become greater, and I must become less." This was John the Baptist talking about Jesus.
That must be our motto as Christians. Jesus must increase, while I decrease. We need to be humble. The old man was being humble in feeding the geese everyday. And I need to be humble in playing the guitar in the worship team. So much more reward to doing the Lord's work.
Nicely penned, Jim!
Blessings,
Kimbob
Comment Written 30-May-2024
Comment from Esther Brown
Jim that was lovely. You describe the gray despair of a wasted life, the joy and safety trusting Jesus very well. It says it is fiction? I love animals. When I was a kid I would lay on my tummy for hours waiting for the half feral kittens to come out of hiding. Occasionally I even touched one, but never succeeded in catching or taming them. I had a pet monkey named Pua. Feeding birds and critters makes me happy. Is it Canadian Geese or Canada geese? Good story. Esther
|
Jim that was lovely. You describe the gray despair of a wasted life, the joy and safety trusting Jesus very well. It says it is fiction? I love animals. When I was a kid I would lay on my tummy for hours waiting for the half feral kittens to come out of hiding. Occasionally I even touched one, but never succeeded in catching or taming them. I had a pet monkey named Pua. Feeding birds and critters makes me happy. Is it Canadian Geese or Canada geese? Good story. Esther
Comment Written 29-May-2024
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Congratulations on your milestone - I can't even imagine writing that much!
Your line about "feeling their gratitude" - I've had cat sitters tell me that they feel my cat's gratitude when they spend extra time with her. So that struck me in a familiar way.
The first time you mention Abercrombie, I believe you spell it Ambercrombie.
Jim, this actually gave me chills as I read the end - one man replaced the other to feed the geese, to perform God's work.
This was lovely, if a bit long. I think you could cut the time spent in the apartment down. Just a thought.
I read this because of the title. I've read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance three times over the last 40 years, and I wondered if it would be similar. I think the lesson of both is that a life led slowly and with purpose is a life worth living.
Thanks for sharing.
xo
Pam
|
Congratulations on your milestone - I can't even imagine writing that much!
Your line about "feeling their gratitude" - I've had cat sitters tell me that they feel my cat's gratitude when they spend extra time with her. So that struck me in a familiar way.
The first time you mention Abercrombie, I believe you spell it Ambercrombie.
Jim, this actually gave me chills as I read the end - one man replaced the other to feed the geese, to perform God's work.
This was lovely, if a bit long. I think you could cut the time spent in the apartment down. Just a thought.
I read this because of the title. I've read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance three times over the last 40 years, and I wondered if it would be similar. I think the lesson of both is that a life led slowly and with purpose is a life worth living.
Thanks for sharing.
xo
Pam
Comment Written 29-May-2024
Comment from royowen
There's little doubt about, when one realises his existence we are simply potential servants of the Lord. He simply wants under His auspices to fulfil our humble lives in Him, it's been a long time now since I knew, my job is to feed others, until my purpose changes, or location, as you do. Profoundly written, so sad CeCe left, blessings Roy
 |
There's little doubt about, when one realises his existence we are simply potential servants of the Lord. He simply wants under His auspices to fulfil our humble lives in Him, it's been a long time now since I knew, my job is to feed others, until my purpose changes, or location, as you do. Profoundly written, so sad CeCe left, blessings Roy
Comment Written 29-May-2024
Comment from Iza Deleanu
Nice story and I resonate with this idea that one day you wake up , look around and wonder "wow, life really happened here." Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
|
Nice story and I resonate with this idea that one day you wake up , look around and wonder "wow, life really happened here." Thank you for sharing and good luck with your writings.
Comment Written 28-May-2024
Comment from Jesse James Doty
Congratulations on your 500th post! I read through this story with interest not knowing when or where it would stop. When it was over it was clear to me what zen meant to you and you told a very good tale about the meaning and purpose of life. This is an excellent way to approach life and love as if they are both the same thing.
Jesse
reply by the author on 28-May-2024
|
Congratulations on your 500th post! I read through this story with interest not knowing when or where it would stop. When it was over it was clear to me what zen meant to you and you told a very good tale about the meaning and purpose of life. This is an excellent way to approach life and love as if they are both the same thing.
Jesse
Comment Written 28-May-2024
reply by the author on 28-May-2024
-
Thank you so much for those very valued words!
-
You're welcome, Jim.
Glad you liked it.
Jesse
-
Please continue to write.
-
I will, Jim, thank you.
-
I'll look forward to your words.
Comment from Sallyo
Nice one that would be right at home in an anthology. I didn't see any typos and the whole thing has a professional sheen to it. Do whatever thy right hand findeth, eh? There's an elderly man in our town who has brain damage after a stroke. He can't drive, but he rides his bike to the park every day to feed the ducks. He has a little custom trailer to carry the grain.
reply by the author on 28-May-2024
|
Nice one that would be right at home in an anthology. I didn't see any typos and the whole thing has a professional sheen to it. Do whatever thy right hand findeth, eh? There's an elderly man in our town who has brain damage after a stroke. He can't drive, but he rides his bike to the park every day to feed the ducks. He has a little custom trailer to carry the grain.
Comment Written 28-May-2024
reply by the author on 28-May-2024
-
I am very thankful for your words, and to The Lord. A year ago at this time, I left not much of an archive. Now, I have something for which I have worked.
-
I started a project in 2016 during a spell of minor hopelessness... Still doing it!
-
I hope you continue to write for a long time to come!
Comment from Erika Whittle
What a beautiful story to commemorate your 500th work! Many things fade away with time but the impact we have on others can last a life time. Great job my friend!
reply by the author on 28-May-2024
|
What a beautiful story to commemorate your 500th work! Many things fade away with time but the impact we have on others can last a life time. Great job my friend!
Comment Written 28-May-2024
reply by the author on 28-May-2024
-
Thank you so much for your valued words.
Comment from Carol Hillebrenner
This is a great story. It's a lot like the ones that win publication in Harper's magazine, or at least they did a few years ago. Your story has everything. Thoughtfulness, faith, reward, honesty, and a lesson (very gently inserted). And a great title.
|
This is a great story. It's a lot like the ones that win publication in Harper's magazine, or at least they did a few years ago. Your story has everything. Thoughtfulness, faith, reward, honesty, and a lesson (very gently inserted). And a great title.
Comment Written 28-May-2024
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
Congratulations on your 500th post. Wow!!! Good for you. That's incredible. So was your story! It's one of those that will stick with you. I could just see your man watching the old man with the geese. There was more to the encounter than just chance. So many lessons learned. Some deep thoughts.
Hugs,
Rhonda
|
Congratulations on your 500th post. Wow!!! Good for you. That's incredible. So was your story! It's one of those that will stick with you. I could just see your man watching the old man with the geese. There was more to the encounter than just chance. So many lessons learned. Some deep thoughts.
Hugs,
Rhonda
Comment Written 27-May-2024
