1.
Life in The Wild Jungle
Once upon a time there were some PeaceOSaurs who
lived deep in the heart of The Wild Jungle.
The PeaceOSaurs worked together and played together.
They shared their good times and their bad. Everyone
tried really hard to look out for each other, and
do what they could to make life better for their
families and friends.
The PeaceOSaurs were young and old, and big and
small, so it was only natural that sometimes they
had different ideas about the way some things should
be. Sure, there were disagreements and arguments,
now and then. But peace was a priority for the PeaceOSaurs
-- it was important to them to try to get along.
So they were usually able to work out their problems
without anyone getting hurt, although sometimes
they had to call on their friends to help them solve
their disputes.
The PeaceOSaurs really loved their lives together.
It seemed pretty obvious to them that this was the
way life should be. But it wasn't always easy for
them living in the heart of The Wild Jungle. You
see, not everyone shared their way of seeing things.
In fact, almost everyone else in The Wild Jungle
seemed to subscribe to a different point of view.
They seemed to think that "survival of the fittest"
was the rule of the land. The other inhabitants
of The Wild Jungle called themselves MeOSaurs, because
they believed it was fine to take what you want
when you want it.
Of course, it wouldn't be fair to say that the MeOSaurs
were completely bad apples. They cared about their
families and friends. And they looked after them,
when it didn't cut down too much on their me-time.
But generally the MeOSaurs really put the wild in
The Wild Jungle.
The PeaceOSaurs tried really hard to get along with
their neighbors, and usually things worked out pretty
well. For a while, anyway.
You see, because the PeaceOSaurs worked so well
together, they were able to accomplish a lot. They
had the best kept homes in The Wild Jungle. They
had the best foods; the best clothes; the best games.
And they had plenty to go around.
The MeOSaurs, on the other hand, never seemed to
be able to get it together that well. They spent
a lot of time arguing and fighting. They were actually
quite creative, too, but they spent a lot more time
figuring out how to destroy things than create them.
Fortunately for the MeOSaurs, the PeaceOSaurs were
all too happy to trade or share their abundance
with their neighbors.
And usually the PeaceOSaurs' kindness would win
over the hearts of the MeOSaurs so that the MeOSuars
had a feeling of respect for them, and generally
left the PeaceOSaurs alone, except when they needed
things.
Actually, there were long stretches when the MeOSaurs
even got along well with the PeaceOSaurs. Many MeOSaurs
and PeaceOSaurs were friends. And many MeOSaurs
were receptive when their PeaceOSaur friends tried
to teach them ways to get along with each other
better. For a while it would almost seem like the
PeaceOSaur way of listening and sharing and trying
to get along was contagious and just might become
the MeOSaur way of life, too.
But inevitably, the peaceful coexistence between
the PeaceOSaurs and the MeOSaurs would suddenly
shatter. Usually it was because the MeOSaurs were
jealous and tired of always getting PeaceOSaur handouts.
"It
isn't fair that the PeaceOSaurs have everything!"
the MeOSaurs would argue. "This is our land. They're
not even MeOSaurs like us, why should they have
it all!"
Or, "It's all the PeaceOSaurs' fault that we MeOSaurs
can't get along -- They bring out the worst in us!
We'd be better off without them in our neck of The
Wild Jungle!"
So, eventually the MeOSaurs decided it was time
to take all of what the PeaceOSaurs had for themselves,
because in their minds, it was all rightfully theirs
anyway.
Other times there didn't seem to be any rhyme or
reason why things suddenly turned ugly. But when
it did, the PeaceOSaurs had to move on to another
part of the Wild Jungle and start anew.
Now, the thing is, the PeaceOSaurs could have fought
for what was there's. Some of the PeaceOSaurs were
small and would never be able to defend themselves
under the rules of The Wild Jungle, it's true. But
some of the PeaceOSaurs were bigger than anyone
else in the whole Wild Jungle, and they could have
easily defended themselves and all of their PeaceOSaur
community as well.
But the PeaceOSaurs refused to fight. "If we fight
now, we'd have to fight again later, and then again
and again. We'd become just like the MeOSaurs,"
they'd say. "We'd have to give up our way of seeing
things. Greed would overcome us and we wouldn't
get along with each other anymore. We'd forget that
a peaceful way of life brings us the best life."
The PeaceOSaurs tried their best to talk it out
with the MeOSaurs, using all of their peacemaking
skills. But when reason failed and their lives were
in danger, it was time to move on.
This is the way life was for the PeaceOSaurs, over
and over again, until one day they'd reached the
end of The Wild Jungle, and there was no place left
for them to move on to.
2. In Search of
a Better Place
What could they do now? Never ones to despair, the
PeaceOSaurs calmly discussed the situation. It wasn't
long before they agreed to build a ship and set
sail to find a better place. A place where they
could be free to live in peace.
Working together, they drew up plans for a glorious
sailing vessel.
A few of the MeOsaurs had come by to the edge of
the beach where the PeaceOSaurs had gathered. Some
of the MeOSaurs taunted the PeaceOSaurs and laughed
mockingly at the blueprints.
"You'll
never be able to build a ship like that!" they scoffed.
Some of the MeOSaurs, especially the younger ones
who had PeaceOSaur friends, wanted to help build
the ship. But their parents wouldn't let them. Sadly
they hugged their PeaceOSaur friends and returned
to their parents' sides as they were commanded.
The young MeOsaurs watched sadly as their parents
and neighbors shouted nastily at the PeaceOSaurs.
The PeaceOSaurs sighed and turned to their task.
They hummed happy tunes to focus themselves over
the chorus of mocking insults that filled the air
from the MeOSaurs.
None of the PeaceOSaurs had ever worked on such
a large and complicated project before. But they
knew each others' talents and skills well, so it
was easy to divide up the tasks for this new endeavor.
They had always worked so well together before,
and so work on building the Great Ship went smoothly
and quickly as well.
It wasn't long at all, much to the MeOSaurs' surprise,
before the Great Ship was finished. No one, not
the MeOSaurs or the PeaceOSaurs, had ever seen anything
so grand and beautiful.
"Eh,
but it's too BIG to sail!" the MeOSaurs mocked.
"And
besides, good riddance to you all anyway!" Proud
of their accomplishment, the PeaceOSaurs admired
the vessel. They turned to the MeOSaurs with a little
sadness but a little thankfulness, too.
"Thank
you for allowing us to share our time with you,
while we were here," they said. "We wish you all
the best in your lives."
Most of the MeOSaurs grumbled and swallowed and
coughed uneasily. They didn't really know what to
say and instead turned gruffly around and headed
back into the jungle.
Some of the younger MeOSaurs though, brought food
and supplies from the bounty that had been taken
from the PeaceOSaurs. The older MeOSaurs grumbled
and shook their heads, but they didn't stop their
children this time.
The younger MeOSaurs hugged their friends one last
time, and there were tears in everyone's eyes.
They stood with the PeaceOSaurs for a moment in
silence. No one said anything, but it felt so comfortable
to be quiet together. The PeaceOSaurs looked lovingly
at the thick green trees of the jungle, and the
blue, blue sky and their MeOSaur friends. They were
thankful for all of the things they had shared together
in The Wild Jungle.
The PeaceOSaurs turned to look out over the ocean
and felt thankful, too, that they were about to
go on a wonderful journey. They were excited as
they envisioned their lives together in the better
place they knew they would find.
They closed their eyes a moment and when they opened
them again, they looked around at each other and
smiled, knowing each of them understood what each
of the rest was feeling, without even speaking a
word.
They said their goodbyes and boarded the ship. The
PeaceOSaurs waved farewell as they looked back a
moment at their friends and the land that they had
known. As the ship set sail, they turned to face
the distant horizons, unafraid of the unknown vast
ocean of blue that separated them from the new home
they would someday find.
3. Beyond
the Unknown
The journey across the sea was long and harsh. Fierce
storms tossed the great ship about as if it were
a toy, testing the PeaceOSaurs' courage and the
strength of their sailing vessel.
The calm days often dragged on so long that one
might thing they would threaten to drive the PeaceOSaurs
mad with boredom. But although it is true that the
PeaceOSaurs faced every task by working diligently
with pride in their work, they did not need to keep
busy with work in order to have peace of mind.
While some folks submerge themselves in 'keeping
busy' to keep themselves from having to face their
own thoughts, the PeaceOSaurs' passion for work
came from their desire to make life better for themselves
and their families. The peace of mind their work
brought them resulted from knowing they did their
jobs well, and that the work they were doing made
a difference in making life better. So this is why
the PeaceOSuars were just as comfortable with what
others call empty moments. They could just as easily
relax, play and entertain each other with the same
fulfilling passion for living they found in their
work.
So it was that many, many months passed quickly
by. One day when a dove landed on their vessel,
with a branch in its beak, the PeaceOSaurs were
filled with excitement, for they knew that land
could not be very far away.
Indeed, the very next day, far off in the distance,
they could clearly see the faint outline of a tree-filled
landscape. It took three more days to reach land,
and each day brought more excitement and anticipation
than the last. Finally they reached the island.
They anchored the Great Ship and swam ashore together
to see what they would find in this new land.
4. Welcome, Friends
No sooner had the PeaceOSaurs gathered on the sandy
shore, when they saw a whole crowd approaching from
down the beach.
They stood and waited expectantly.
"Hi!"
the natives exclaimed when they were closer. "We're
the DinoPals. Welcome, friends."
The PeaceOSaurs told the DinoPals that they had
traveled a long distance across the sea in search
of better place where they could live in peace.
"Well,"
one of the DinoPals said. "We live in peace here
where we share this wonderful land. You are welcome
to share it with us," she offered. All of the other
DinoPals agreed.
The PeaceOSaurs were filled with joy. They could
tell from the DinoPals' gentle nature that they
would be very happy here.
And indeed, they would all live happily ever after
together.
But first they had a great feast and celebration.
The PeaceOSaurs brought all of their provisions
from the Great Ship to share for the festivities.
And the DinoPals brought them to their village near
the island's shore where there were plenty of delicious
foods to share with the PeaceOSaurs, too.
They ate, and danced and sang, teaching each other
the tunes and steps. It was all new and exciting
and they had so much fun. The celebration went well
into the night, and when they awoke the next day,
they all had so much to be grateful for.
The DinoPals and PeaceOSaurs have lived in peace
for many, many years since then. Every day to them
is a day for giving thanks, for the life and love
that they share together.
But every year, on Thanksgiving Day, they have a
special holiday to celebrate the anniversary of
the very first day they met. They sing and dance
and feast and remember all of the things they've
shared, and rejoice in the thought of all of the
wonderful things yet to do together.
