The Gift I have the pleasure of working on Monday mornings with a group of retired gentleman who use our offices for a gathering place. They meet every Monday to catch up and carve wooden feathers. I love hearing the chatter and laughter of these men as they work on an amazing project together. The project that is in their charge is a memorial. They are carving individual feathers made of native wood to Ohio, for our fallen soldiers. Each feather is lovingly carved for a solider of Iraq and Afghanistan, and each one represents an eagle’s lift feather, symbolizing the soldiers raising themselves to a higher state. Ultimately they will be placed together to form a huge memorial at our State House. I love every part of this endeavor. I was approached by one of these gentlemen the other morning and asked to pick a leaf. On the table in front of me he placed a cache of small wooden leaves. I picked up a beautiful rich dark brown leaf and he began to tell me a story. He said my leaf was representative of angels. He continued to say that angels are everywhere and tend to take on the form of things around us, which in many cases are trees. They are here to watch over us. My particular leaf is smooth to the touch, with curves and depressions and beautifully carved with small details. The story then continued that the leaf I had chosen was part of a larger piece of furniture originally. Many leaves had been released from this piece of furniture out into the world to spread love, and hope and joy. The remaining portion had been turned into a huge black walnut table. The table can be located in an old building that has been renovated into a gathering place for creative people to come together and dream, and share and well, create. I was given so many gifts, on this morning. The first is the company of these wonderful men. The second is being able to watch them carve the tributes to fallen soldiers, and remember and be grateful for their service and sacrifice. Finally, the little leaf which I will carry with me to remind me of God’s love for all of us, and that we are all little pieces of something bigger.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:48:46 +0000
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