The Feather: A Symbol of High Honor

Yesterday, I was drawn again to all the geese that abound in my community. Not before the last couple of days did I notice so many of their feathers all around the grounds. I gathered enough molten feathers for a feather bouquet. My research found that Native American culture believes that all things possess an inherent virtue, power, and wisdom. For example, the feather signifies a connection between the Creator and the feather of the bird that lost it. It symbolizes trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom. It is deeply revered.

My feather bouquet is symbolic to who I desire to be – a woman of trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom. I also learned that Native American warriors were awarded a feather when they won a battle or were particularly brave in war. When a feather falls to the earth, it is believed to carry the bird's energy, and perceived as a gift from God.

No wonder I was drawn to pick up those feathers. They were a gift to me from the geese and God. I read that they shed their feathers because they are dead structures, like our hair or nails and are made of the same ingredient, the protein keratin. That means when they get damaged, they can’t heal themselves. They have to be replaced and that's called molt. Molt keeps birds in top flying condition. Timing is everything in molting so they avoid other periods of high energy demands, like nesting or migration. So, there you have it – my biology lesson on molting.

Timing is everything for us, too. What about this timing of stay-at-home and focusing more inward than outward? Are we in a time when God is causing our "dead feathers" to be replaced like the molting process when birds get a new look and so they will be in top flying condition?

Maybe we need that process to get rid of the old, broken, worn, damaged areas of our lives that cause old, broken, damaged thinking? Just as those geese don’t stubbornly hold on to their dead feathers, so we shouldn’t hold on to the unnecessary weights of negativity that have clung on way too long in our lives. I am so ready to move on to a new season from the old one that was filled with stinking thinking, poor self-image, mistakes made, regrets and disappointments to the new feathers that symbolize our connection between our Creator -- whereby our new feathers are those of trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom.

Oh, how God longs to empower and strengthen us to be able to take flight from all those things that have held us earth-bound and weary. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18,19

God longs to help us let go. All we have to do is go to Him in prayer and ask Him to shine His light on any thoughts, circumstances, habits or other “dead feathers” we might be clinging to. My prayer is that we let go of anything that would hinder a fresh relationship with God, with our family, with our brothers and sisters as children of God. I’m determined to “let go” and let God have His way in me. I’m looking for some new feathers! How about you?

Let's Get in Victory Formation

I apologize up front. I can’t help myself. I must report again on my early morning daily walks in my community that has many water features. My walks seem to open my heart to a greater appreciation for God and His handiwork – the skies, the wildlife, the people passing by. How can I possibly say that when we live in this day and age of so much anger, protests, civil unrest, a pandemic, the greatest unemployment rate in history, and now it’s hurricane season! Dear Lord, have mercy!

But, I'm assured because no matter what, I think to myself, what a wonderful world. Wildlife has no idea the troubles we are seeing. They are at ease, basking in just being and enjoying the beauty around them. This blog came from yesterday's walk. I saw what looked like a geese wildlife habitat. They just glide along, care-free. I picked up some of their molten feathers. The only negative about them is their absolute lack of decorum – pooping all over our walking trails that requires expert navigations skills to maneuver around it all. Ugh!

Then, a flock of geese in V-formation reminded me of 2010 when my sweetheart was about to have a major surgery the next day, I called on my two walking/praying buddies. We declared victory as we took seven laps around the hospital (like Joshua and his troops marched around the walls of Jericho). It was hot in Tulsa -- a heat index of 105 degrees, but a cool breeze with the fragrance of flowers from around the hospital, enveloped us as we started our "march". We began our 7th victory lap. This time, we walked by Ron's room and gave him the "V" is for victory hand sign. We turned the corner and heard "honk, honk, honk". It was a perfect "V" formation of geese flying above us.

That victory walk, and mindset, gave us the faith we needed for the next day. We knew our faith journey was guided by the One Who loves us most, desires to bless us with good things, and Who promises He will never leave us or forsake us.

And, I believe that same victory is for all who know they aren't defined by what's going on in this earth. They are defined by trusting in God's ways being the best ways, and that seals the deal EVERY TIME. Our victory rests in our faith and complete assurance that God is still in control no matter what it looks like around us. So, like those geese – let’s get into our victory formation and spread our wings and fly above the storms!

1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

"V" is for VICTORY

Knowing my Honey would have a major surgery the next day, I called on my "walking/praying" buddies, Karen and Sheila. It was time to declare VICTORY as we made our seven laps around the hospital (like Joshua and his troops did, marching around the walls of Jericho). It was a hot day in Tulsa -- a heat index of 105 degrees, but when we started our "march", we felt a sweet breeze, fragranced with the flowers around the hospital. Looming up above were dark clouds, but we were enamored by the bright light that was behind them. We were reminded of the LIGHT of Christ and we had nothing to fear.

Such victory was in our hearts as we began our 7th Victory Lap. This time, we walked by Ron's room and and gave him the "V" is for victory hand sign. Soon, marching parallel with us, was a geese family, Mama, Papa, and six little ones. As we turned the corner, we heard "honk, honk, honk" and we thought our Geese Family had taken flight, but up above, flew a perfect "V" formation of geese and that was topped off by a lightning bolt across the sky -- God's exclamation point on our VICTORY!

That victory walk, and mindset, gave us the faith boost we needed for the next day. No, we didn't get the miracle victory we expected, but, without doubt, we knew our faith journey was guided by the One Who loves us most, desires to bless us with good things, and Who promises He will never leave us or forsake us. We continued to stand for our miracle, and though my sweet Honey's ultimate victory was a one-way ticket to heaven a few months later, my victory was, and is the same today "I am more than a conqueror" because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Victory is IN ME! Our victories aren't defined by earth's space and time or, losses. They are defined by trusting in God's ways being the best ways, and that seals the deal EVERY TIME. 1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."