There is a wonderful old story about a mythical beast known as The Firebird and a young hunter who is destined to live out a long association with it. I first heard the ancient tale when I was 41 at a "Gathering of Men" in Atlanta hosted by Robert Bly, Coleman Banks, and Robert Johnson. Bly, and the others unraveled the Firebird legend over the course of a day. It was quite transformational for the hundreds of men taking part in the event. Though there is no space for the long saga of The Firebird in this journal, I can share the opening events upon which the story evolves along many adventures.

Long, long ago, before time was kept on wrists and it rang out in bell-towers, a young hunter rode his horse at full speed through a wide open clearing near the top of a mountain. Vast amounts of wood had been clear cut and gathered there long ago to build a retaining wall for the King's palace. Now it was all grass and wildflowers. The horse he rode wasn't like any you might see today. Much larger and more mighty than a Clydesdale, these horses disappeared from the face of the planet when chivalry died. Some say the Earth swallowed them up and holds them awaiting the day when chivalry returns. Then they will ride again and true justice will reign. So the story goes.

But on this day, the boy was only interested in the exhilaration of speed. Everything was a blur of blue and green as they sped along. Then something caught the hunters eye. A glint of gold caught his attention just at the edge of the wood. He drew his Horse of Power to a stop. There, gleaming in a beam of sunshine, was a magnificent, enormous, golden feather. The young man began to dismount when his horse of power said this; "I know what you're thinking. and I would advise against it. The trouble is not now The trouble is before you." Though somewhat chastened,the young man dismounted and approached the feather. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. Long and sleek with markings of pure gold, it was obvious to him that it came from the tale of The Great Firebird. Nobody had ever possessed such a feather and his mind reeled with possibilities of fame and wealth. His horse chimed in again saying; "Pick it up at your own peril. But there will be trouble" But the young hunter replied that he would pick it up and then take it to the King for what must be vast reward. For nobody had ever possessed a golden feather from the tale of The Firebird. He would make it a gift to the King and receive vast rewards and recognition. And so they sped off for the castle.

The tale goes on from adventure to adventure. There is plenty of trouble, some reward, and much peril to be sure. Good overcomes evil in the end. Heroes vanquish villains. Love triumphs (as far as we know).

It seems to me that we are presented with a big choice. Here and Now. Probably more than one. Like the young hunter, we have been given opportunities. Will we pick up the feather and go off on perilous adventures? Or, leaving the feather behind, will we turn around to grasp what we know and understand? One decision will change the world. The other will maintain the status quo. There is much for each of us to do if we decide to pick up that feather.