I don't often (ok, ever) put anyone else's writings on my weblog. After all, it's mine, said the seagull from finding Nemo. Let them get their own stinking blog and put their own fuzzy, black and white, cheezy, contemplative photo on it. I'll make an exception today for my friend, Lee Fruh. (pronounced 'free') I got this from him and thought it was wonderful enough to share. Lee helps out orphaned children in Equador and is a champion for their cause. In addition, he is a fellow underground writer with wonderful wit and wisdom. Enjoy.

The Feather
by Lee Fruh

When news hit that the author of Forrest Gump was moving in across the street, I was elated. I, after all, am an aspiring writer. Winston Groom and I would become fast friends. We would walk together in the Alabama afternoons and wax literary—creative kindred spirits, he and I.

I imagined our relationship coming to a place of great mutual benefit. He would call me in the wee hours. “Lee,” he would say with panicked voice, “The deadline for my sequel to Forrest Gump is tomorrow. I’m almost through with it, but I can’t come up with an enduing. I knew I could turn to you for inspiration.” And out of great appreciation for my priceless input, he would connect me with his friends in the publishing business.

None of this happened. Mr. Groom keeps to himself. In fact the closest I have ever come to him is watching him in a TV commercial for shrimp.

I’m afraid of him, now: afraid that he’ll think of me as one of those writer wannabes who always hangs around hoping to hitch a ride to recognition and success on his coattail. And I’m paranoid that he thinks I stare out of my window into his office, looking over his shoulder as he writes. (This is absolutely not true. It is impossible to see what he is writing—even with the use of my binoculars, because there is a large hanging plant that blocks his computer screen from my line of sight.)

So I leave Winston Groom alone.

But the feather finally got to me. You know what I mean? The feather that floats away from Forrest Gump at the bus stop in the beginning of the movie and drifts down beside him at the end when he is standing by Jenny’s grave. For years, I have theorized about the meaning of that feather. Finally I had to know. So I summoned my courage, faced Mr. Groom’s house with great determination… and brazenly sent Tori, our youngest, across the street to ask him. Meanwhile, I hid inside my house.

Five minutes later, Tori returned with the answer. The feather is none other than Jenny’s spirit drifting along through Forrest’s life, watching over him, making sure he is okay.

Well I hate to disagree with Mr. Groom, especially since he wrote the story. But he’s wrong. The feather isn’t Jenny’s spirit. It’s God’s grace.

Forrest was a disadvantaged boy: he had a curvature in his spine which required him to wear leg-braces. He was intellectually challenged as well. And yet, grace prevailed. Everything that happened to him in his life made him a better person.

I know the feather is God’s grace because there’s been a feather just like it drifting over my life all these years. I, like Forrest am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I, like Forrest have experienced loss and misfortune. I have been through battles and wars. But something has always helped me; something has always caused me to come out on top. Not my skill or intellect. Something outside of me, watching over me, gradually but persistently guiding me to a better place.

Forrest Gump is just a story written by the guy across the street. But there is something in it that rings true; something about it that touches a longing in our soul. It’s a longing to know that Someone is watching, guiding us through the perils of life. We all want a feather. The great news is that to know God, to have an intimate relationship with Him is to have the feather.

There is a little 9-year-old boy growing up in an Ecuadorian ghetto who needs to get this news. His story is not unlike Forrest Gump’s. His disadvantages are severe; his situation almost hopeless. He needs to know that Someone is looking out for him—Someone who wants to overshadow his life with goodness and mercy. God has a feather for him.

It’s good news. It’s not fiction—it’s the truth. And it’s why we do what we do. Thanks for helping us.

May the Feather be with you!

Consider Psalm 27. A moody piece of work, like the Psalmist said to his wife, "Hey dear. I'm writing a song here but I'm not getting anything. Could you do this?" She says, "Honey bunch, I'm having PMS." He says, "That's ok. It'll make it interesting." She says, "FINE, you lazy jerk. As if I don't have enough to do with ironing your robes and polishing your crown you sorry adulterous excuse for a king husband type guy." David spends the night on the couch and in the morning, voila, Psalm 27. Ok, this probably didn't happen. But for a guy, David is really riding the mood swing here. He begins with some beautiful praise and worship about how much confidence he has in God and about halfway through shifts to how much fear he has in himself. Verses 8 and 9 outline the journey of the believer and the trepidation that goes with it. Vs 8 "When you said, "Seek My face" my heart said unto You, "Your face I will seek". God draws us, we respond, the eternal quest begins. Vs 9 "Hide not your face far from me. Put not your servant away in anger." What are the two biggest fears that man has about having an encounter with God? None, if you're an overweight southern gospel singer waving a Bible in one hand and a fried chicken leg in the other. But if you're like the rest of us you might feel the same way the Psalmist did. Fear #1 - "Hide not your face far from me." Being ignored and rejected is a standard part of human to human relationships. Is it any wonder that we apply the same caution to a human/divine relationship. Though the promise of grace is plain as black ink on white paper within the imitation leather covers of your King James Version, we still get gun shy when it comes to approaching the One whom we claim as Lord. Don't fret. Even king David covered his bases in this area. Fear #2 - "Put not your servant away in anger." It's one thing for the Lord to pay attention to you. As if that wasn't enough, David wants to make sure that when God does pay attention that He's in a good mood. Knowing that the wrath of God is a reality, I don't want to be subjected to that either. Again, though I've read in the Scriptures that I'm not appointed to wrath, I've heard of friendly fire on the news and I want to trust that when God points a finger of judgement at evil, I don't want to be standing in the way by mistake. Proverbs 8:13 defines the fear (healthy) of the Lord. It says it's to hate evil. I guess if I'm doing this then I won't likely be in the wrong place at the wrong time in my relationship with God. With people though? That's another matter altogether. I guess it boils down to what God thinks of you and what man thinks of you and who you care about more.

Authority. The mere mention (or typing) of the word makes one cringe. Authority is lauded by those who have it and cursed by those who are subject to it yet it's God's way of keeping things decent and in order. You wanna know the biggest headache in the body of Christ? It's not those who don't do anything and it's not those who serve under authority. It's those who serve but not subject to authority. I used to shun titles and offices saying things like, "God is my authority. All are equal in grace for we are ALL kings and priests unto God. Therefore I'll serve Him as He directs and I don't need a title to do that." I had a hard time with people calling me 'pastor' and in some ways, I still do. Ultimately though that entire line of thinking was rooted in the rocky soil of pride. I was saying that I want the satisfaction of serving God without the responsibility. It's truly amazing how humiility and pride are often indistinguishable from one another. Though seemingly supported by Scripture, I realized that what I was saying was that to acknowledge an office meant that I was in subjection to authority and therefore had to 'submit' to it. Yet another word that makes me cringe. My anarchist nature dislikes anything that has the potential to abuse and since abuse is commonly associated with those in authority we tend to write off all authority as abusive with catch phrases like, "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". The truth is that abuse cannot be abuse unless it is mistreatment from one in authority. A servant may harrass a master but we would call it insubortination. A master may harrass a servant but we would call it abuse. The treatment is the same but the position of the giver and receiver is what defines that treatment. Likewise the office is vital for it defines the limits of the authority. For example, if a nurse checks your prostate that's ok. But if your dentist checks your prostate that's another thing all together. The office and title defines the limits. So take care of your view of authority and those to whom it has been given for ultimately authority comes from God and in it's proper context, is a wonderful thing. Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." Furthermore an understanding of authority is a sign of strong faith. Matthew 8:9-10 tells the story of the centurion who asked Jesus to simply speak and the servant would be healed for he understood that when one with authority speaks, things happen. Jesus says in verse 10, "I have not found so great faith, not in all Israel." A gentile got it for he had a correct perspective of authority but those who had been abused for so long (Israel) by those in authority (Romans) were so hostile to it that their very perspective of Jesus Himself was wrong. Ultimately I have come to realize that Satan attacks authority relentlessly for authority is not for destruction but for edification of the body. In 2nd Corinthians 10:8 Paul writes, "...I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction..." Finally, operating under authority opens up God's blessing and protection for without that submission you're not even recognized. Acts 19:14 tells the story of the sons of Sceva who tried to cast out a demon and the demon says, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" and proceeds to beat them senseless. Those who try to serve God apart from title, office, submission, and authority are often surprised that they aren't recognized. But without that you're about as effective for the kingdom as a mime in the dark. The Bible says, "Submit yourself to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you." If you want power and faith you have to get it from the only one qualified to give it and that is the One from whom all authority flows. Let it flow to and through you this week.