Branding 101, from a Turkey's perspective.

One day, long ago, just as Turtle Island, now known as North America, began it's preparation for more relatives to live in it's richness, Turkey watched above as the Golden Eagle soared high above the clouds, until he could no longer see her. Convinced that this is what he too wanted to explore, he was saddened by his efforts to fly higher than the tops of the juniper trees that stood solemnly below the the mother mountain, now known as Mt. Shasta.

After many days and weeks of reflecting on his inability to fly like the eagle, he decided it was time to have a talk with Creator. Dejected and saddened he asked Creator to come talk.

Yes Turkey, this is Creator, what is the matter? Turkey replied, I want to be just like Golden Eagle, so that I can fly high above the clouds. Can I be given this ability? Creator replied of course, if that is what you want to do. Before you decide though I want you to be sure of your decision. I first want you to walk all the way from here, (what is now California), until you reach the ocean that sits in the East. When you arrive, you can turn around and come back home. Make sure that you pay attention to all that you see.

Turkey began his journey. He walked and walked and would see very little. Water was very hard to find, the sun was so hot, without trees to shade him. He wondered too about the air, for it was much too dry and dusty to breath. He persevered.

Finally he arrived to the great ocean of the east, what is now known as the Atlantic ocean. He turned around and headed home.

When arriving home he immediately went to his special place, a place on a hill where he could speak directly with Creator. Yo Creator he said, I am back. Creator responded, Turkey, you have been so strong and mighty. Thank you for taking the time to make your journey. Many are and will be asked to take this journey, but not everyone will take my suggestions. So, tell me buddy, do you still want to be Golden Eagle. He quickly replied, Yes, of course, this is why I did what you asked.

Creator then said please tell me about your journey, start from the beginning when you left, and your walk and fly back from the great ocean of the east.

Turkey responded, well it was really hot, dusty, rocky and not like the beauty of our home here, at all. I didn't think I would make it to the great ocean of the east, and I thought a lot about whether I would live through such emptiness all around. He went on and on about the harshness of the walk and fly.

Creator said, you haven't spoken about what it was like after you met the great ocean of the east and then began your walk/fly home.

Oh, that is the best part. I found the grandest of all pathways for the return walk/fly. There was so much green. Water was abundant. The air was clean and fresh. Trees were available to shade me from the hot sun. Seeds for eating were everywhere. I had plenty to eat and drink, and the days coming home went by so fast. The funny thing is that now that I think about it, it seemed to be the same trail that I took when I walked and flew to the great ocean.

Creator responded, you were on the exact same trail. What you don't realize is this all of the green, all of the clean air, all of the beauty that you experienced was a result of the work that you did. For it is you, Turkey, that I have given the responsibility of spreading and planting seeds. Wherever you walk, you spread seeds. All of the life that we enjoy here, you took with you. Now, Turtle Island will be plentiful for all of our relatives that will come to live here.

So, do you still want to be the Eagle?

Turkey responded by spreading his beautiful rainbow colored tail feathers for all of his relatives to see.

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story retold by Bill Jacobson

http://twitter.com/billjacobson

Please be the gift of you

One heart, One Mind, One Prayer, One people.

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