Stan often surprises the children ...

This time it is with a skit of the three French barn cats.  The children know all the cats' names, but a newcomer, a yellow bird, joins in.  Pounce de Leon, pounces on the bird.  The dad cat, Bonjour, and the mom cat, Mew Mia ou, rush over to see what has just happened.                                                                                             

Their French kitten, Pounce de Leon, pretends to be rationalizing, "Mom, I know you told me to be a good kitty and leave the bird alone, but I only made a small movement.  I didn't do a big pounce.   I only made a very small movement ---for the bird's right wing."

With his bid for a French accent, Stan varies his voice for each cat, providing for very cute entertainment.  The French accent varies now, for a more masculine adult-like voice.  The typical head movement is the cue for Bonjour's voice, "Leave the right wing alone.  Go after the left wing."

The feminine French accent, Mew Mia ou, joins in, "Too political for me. I go after the head, not the wings."

Bonjour cautions, "Make sure you don't lose your head over it."                                                                                                    

Mew Mia ou adds, "You know what they say, birds of a feather ...."

Bonjour finishes the sentence, "Stick together, ...yuck!   And stick to your throat too!  You're absolutely right ---I mean, I'm right. I mean, you're absolutely correct. Maybe we should go after the head."

Leah laughs.  She calls Pounce de Leon, "Pounce the Lion?  And what is the bird's name?  You didn't tell us the bird's name."                                                                                                     

Stan improvises, "King the Lewis."

Leah laughs, "You mean, Lewis the King?"

Stan smiles, "No, King the Lewis. One day the Lewis was taking a  walk and Pounce the Lion jumped out of the bush, right on top of the Lewis."                                                                     
Josiah enthusiastically joins in, "What happened then?"

Stan broadens his smile, "Well, all the other birds tried to warn everyone by shouting, LION ON THE LEWIS!."

Cindy watches her precious Shannon, innocently joining Stan to perform the next skit.

A shared appreciation …would it soon develop into an increased interest in each other's friendship?  She wants to believe Shannon is still so young, but she really isn't.

Stan goes to Israel with George.

In response to this, Fernye teases Cindy, "See, now Stan's going to have national attention, international even. You shouldn't have feared him getting together with Shannon. Now I'm afraid he's gotten away."

As Cindy drives home from their visit with Fernye, she reflects on how quickly Shannon has grown up. She had tried so hard to protect her innocence …and for the most part she feels she has succeeded. Shannon is such a proper young lady and she is pleased that this transition into adulthood has proved to be an easy transition so far. She only hopes it will be as easy for the other three children. Things are changing so quickly. How much different will things be for Leah when she will be facing the challenging prospects of adulthood? Well, that is still years away …no need to think about that!

Cindy turns on the Christian radio station for some good, wholesome message. It is a popular Christian speaker …she recognizes the voice, but can't recall his name. As they go to a commercial, to Cindy's surprise, they are talking about Liposuction. She quickly reaches to turn it off, but mistakenly hits the wrong knob, switching it to another station.

In the back seat, Leah, Josiah, and Samuel are chattering and not seeming to pay attention …but, as is often the case, children will not even be paying attention to something until it is decided upon by an adult that a particular thing should not be seen or heard by a child, at which point, it suddenly becomes of interest to the child.

The children had not been paying attention until Mom abruptly hits the knob. Suddenly the back seat becomes quiet. She quickly tries to hit the knob again, but again she misfires, locating a station that is in high need of a lower volume adjustment. She quickly remedies her mistake, but it is too late. She is not sure whether they heard it, but she is certain that if they had heard it, they would not understand what they'd heard.

Her fear is soon realized, as Josiah asks, "Leah, what exactly does dysfunctional mean?"

Josiah had been struggling with his pronunciation of words, but he pronounces that one very clearly. Cindy is thankful that Josiah hadn't asked her the question, and listens to what kind of answer Leah will give.

Leah is a real reader. She likes to read anything she can get her hands on. She likes to be informative, "Dysfunctional is when something isn't working or functioning right. A brain dysfunction is like when Grandpa can't remember where he put his glasses, when we ask him to read a book to us. I've heard him say that. And a dysfunctional family is one that doesn't work together the way it should."

Cindy wonders where she heard about dysfunctional families.

Josiah answers, "Our family is dysfunctional …since Dad died."

This hurts! Cindy had hoped the children wouldn't perceive their family life in such an unhealthy fashion. She is painfully aware of how she'd messed up much in the past, but she is trying so hard to remedy that. And she feels she's doing a fairly good job.

Leah answers, "No family is perfect!"

Cindy is thankful for that acknowledgement.

Then Josiah repeats what he thought he'd heard, "What's reptile dysfunction?"

Cindy is so happy she'd not been asked that question. Yet, she wonders what Leah will say.

Leah likes to provide an answer, and quickly does, "It's probably why we no longer have dinosaurs. After the flood, the world around them changed and they probably couldn't adapt."

Josiah asks, "Do you think it had something to do with them getting old too?"

Leah is in agreement, "Probably."   

For the next ten years, Cindy spends much of her time Homeschooling Leah and Josiah. Shannon has no desire to go on to college, nor does Cindy encourage it. What she does encourage, is Shannon's interest in helping Homeschool Samuel.

Leah and Josiah are more receptive to Mom, but Samuel seems fascinated by anything Shannon chooses to teach him. And one thing Shannon teaches Samuel all about is ---Dad.  Yes, about horses too, but mostly about Dad.

As Samuel gets older, he becomes fascinated by the line of work that Dad had been in. He is interested in all sorts of law enforcement, but mostly prison work. He studies the history of the prison system, how they've changed throughout the years ---and variations of how prisons are run in other countries.

Samuel also collects all the newspaper articles about the prison break, inclusive of Crazy Larry's escape and Stephen's disappearance. He seems very objective about it, trying to figure out for himself what he feels happened. He has many questions and though most of his family doesn't want to talk much about it, he finds Rebekkah will often talk about it.

He is impressed with the way Rebekkah had handled the press and formed her own investigation.  Though Samuel's primary interest is in Shannon's discovery of that particular Boater's magazine and the entire story behind the writing of the article.

   Leah is just finishing up her Homeschooling, and Josiah has only one year left to complete his final high school grade. This makes it easier, teaching one child. Shannon continues to teach Samuel, so Cindy has more time to think of what she'd like to do with her spare time. She'd put every other notion on hold, so she could dedicate her life to her children. But now that she'd nearly fulfilled the most major part of that, in raising them, she looks again to that idea of long ago. Maybe now is the right time to do it.      

  The world is certainly messed up and confused …so Stephen's book wouldn't be outdated.  Maybe she could get his notes organized and attempt to write the book he had started.   It is all hand-written in ink.  But neatness is compromised as well as organization. She has to figure out his difficult maze of arrows. And if that doesn't slow her down, there are inserts and additions to complicate the way, along the way.

  Cindy types: The Essence ....

                  At least the title page is clear.   Or is it?

George and Stan were spending much time overseas. Presently, they were residing in Jerusalem.

Fernye had a secret in reference to that also. She had been keeping in touch with Stan. George was there on diplomatic relations ….and Stan was always there by his side, learning much.

Though the peace process was making headway, it always seemed to fall short of the grand expectations. This is where Fernye's secret came into play. She had outlined precisely what she felt Stan should do.

Stan had been silent up until now. But this was his advantage. When he finally did speak, it took both George and the others in the meeting by surprise. Stan stands up, "I do not understand how you are to arrive at peace through demands, compromise, and concessions. It is not fair to ask someone to give up something, especially with no clear understanding of how important it is to them. Therefore, I would like to spend one week with each of the representative groups here: to tour each and every one of your countries, enter your homes and holy places, and to experience your visions."

And that's exactly what happens. Stan and George are treated as honored guests. And as they walk about the land, there is total peace for that first week, the second week, and on through to the prearranged seventh week ---after each representative group had taken their turn in playing host to this living experience.

The seventh week they meet again. This meeting has a very different tone to it. It is similar to the first meeting by the fact that it is all men, but this time …the men do not appear so harsh.

Stan has a broad smile as he addresses his newly acquainted friends, "For the first seven days after we last met, there was peace. Into the second week and through the third, there was peace. As we went forth through the fourth, and challenged the doubts of so many by completing the fifth, it seemed inversely improbable that we would not find peace for a sixth and seventh week. Now today, I ask each of you, how long will the peace last?"

Stan continues to capture their interest, "When the peace lasted seven days, few believed it could last a second week. Now that it has lasted seven weeks, I ask you, how much longer do you believe it can last? But before you answer that, let me share with you something I've experienced with each and every one of you through those seven weeks. I did not experience a difference of people. What I felt was a common bond, not any difference significant enough to have fought for, the centuries over. Truly, there has been fighting and hatred ---but not over what any of you truly represent. You've been fighting over a misplaced emotion. You've been fighting over a hurt in the past. You continue to hurt each other in the most horrific ways, over a misunderstanding of the past. And unless it stops, and you've shown that you can stop it, your children and your children's children will be fighting over what you are fighting over today. They will not understand it, but they will fight because you have fought. You will not pass on to them a blessing, as fathers should pass on to their children, but you will pass on to them your pain. You will pass on to them the fight."

Stan looks about. They are listening to him. Over the course of the past weeks, he's endeared himself to them. "And when they die ---when your children die ---your wives will cry and perhaps you will cry, if you have any tears left in you. But most likely you will continue to do what you've been doing ---you will go out and kill again. But let me make one thing clear. When you kill ---be not mistaken, the children will not die because of some stranger you presently call your enemy. The children will die because of you. You are killing your own children because you choose to pass on the fight. It is because of you!! If we filled this room with each of your families' infants, they would get along. But if we allowed you to visit them, they would perish at each others' hands ---all because of your hatred."

Stan leans forward, whispering loudly, "I beg of you, go home and love your children. And if one person kills another, don't hate that people. Teach your children to hate the hatred. Admit your mistakes and join together in communion and heal the land. I've communed with each of you. I've felt each of your hurts, but I cannot feel your hate. You have let the past drive you apart. I beg you to let the past heal you. Let me share with you what I have learned over these seven weeks. Let me share with you what you've shared with me."

Stan lifts two large books, pressed together between his two large hands. He places them on the table in front of him and leans forward, resting his hands upon them, "The past is your foundation. The past is your cornerstone. If you destroy the cornerstones of your beliefs, at the very most ---all you have is a struggle for meaning. And within that struggle, you make up a reason why death is not only unavoidable, but that makes it preferable. You've used the past to destroy, rather than to heal. And you've destroyed the light in your children's eyes."

Suddenly, the lights go out. Gasps are heard throughout the room. It catches everyone by surprise. They sit in darkness.

Suddenly, a light shines beneath Stan's face. Stan holds a flashlight beneath his face, "And all they see is an unclear vision of your face. Our children's eyes see no light shed upon any foundation. And they can no longer see the true light seen through the founding fathers' eyes."

The lights go back on. Stan sets the flashlight on the floor and rests his hands upon the books on the table in front of him, "The founding fathers of what you believe, your patriarchs, did not lead you to peace. But neither did they direct you to war. Take Abraham, for instance, he dearly loved both his children. But he could not find peace in his own household. There was great strife. We cannot read of the account without feeling the pain, without feeling the hurt. But we've taken that hurt and created that as our banner. We've become so all consumed in our hurt that we fail to read on. We fail to read on about the healing that was supposed to have already taken place. The hurt was passed on, but the healing was not. When Abraham died, Ishmael and Isaac, with the common bond of the love of their father, joined together to bury Abraham. They buried their differences for that moment. They reconciled. But did the reconciliation pass on, or did the hurt? Isaac's two sons, Esau and Jacob, found no peace, even within themselves. Esau went to Ishmael to find peace and a wife. Jacob tried to find peace by working seven years for a wife, yet found the seven years would not reveal that which he had hoped for."

One of the men, rises slowly, "It is true. I have carried my hatred too long. I would, that my son would die, before I would part with my anger and my hatred. But I will stand up and confess my error, to my people. As Ishmael and Isaac joined together to bury their father, I will bury my differences. I have stood against my own son, my only son, because of his desire to marry one whom I am not willing to accept. And I stand before you today, with no reason, other than pride, to stand in the way. So, as Jacob gave seven years of work, I am willing to turn our seven weeks of seven days, ---into seven years. I would like all of you here to believe that we can extend our seven weeks into seven years of peace. And then why not seventy times seven, and save our children's children's children. Let us begin this peace agreement with a celebration of my son's wedding. Let me now return unto my son to give him my blessing. Let us celebrate together in giving all of our children the blessing they so desperately deserve ---the blessing of peace ---not the vile curse we have given them through war."

It was a slow and difficult process, but they had finally negotiated what most would consider ---world peace. Peace in the Middle East, that is.

With cameras rolling ...

"So, the burning question still remains, Stan.  How did you get them to agree to peace?"   

Stan had chosen the main dining area of the community church as the interview site.  He takes a bite of a hotdog, swallows, then wipes his mouth with a napkin, "Oh, it was nothing.  You just have to be at the right place at the right time.  They've perhaps been the most misunderstood people of all time.  They are truly a loving people ---all of them.  Everyone wanted the peace ---they just had to be guided into it."   

The camera quickly pans the cozy atmosphere of the dining area before posing the next question, "So, what would you say is next on your agenda, Stan ---having now accomplished world peace?"  

Stan takes a large bite and speaks with his mouth full, "World hunger." 

Everyone at the table laughs, as well as the media ---who've already planned their next comments, "Well, I guess they say that peace begins at home.  So perhaps the same could be said for curing hunger.  But seriously, do you have a plan in place for curing world hunger?"   

Stan wipes his mouth and swallows, "I don't, but my friend Shannon here has been working on one."   

Stan turns to Shannon, "Would you like to share with them what you told me yesterday?"   

Shannon is rather surprised and unprepared to say anything, but the camera is now upon her.   She tries to hide her embarrassment.  Stan saves her, "Well, Shannon and I were discussing how some of the developments of capitalism do not always serve us best.  We've always viewed a competitive market to be a healthy one, but at times our striving to be competitive on so many varied levels, actually does not maximize our productivity.   Sometimes, even in our individual lives, we can become quite non-productive by focusing on too many things at once."  

Stan takes a smaller bite of hotdog, "So, Shannon brought it to my attention that if we'd focus on just a half dozen struggling third-world countries ---to help them out, by allowing them to focus on producing just one thing ---then they could achieve more maximum productivity. Her suggestion was that we take those half dozen countries and have  them focus exclusively on the production of bread. Then they could distribute the bread throughout the world and there would be no more hunger."

The media supplies the question that perhaps all of the viewing audience would be asking, "But wouldn't the burden of distribution be difficult and far exceed even the cost of production?  Who would handle the distribution?"   

Stan smiles, "You know, that is the same question I asked Shannon. And she said that would be taken care of by donations." 

Shannon, with her wonderful classic laugh, can not contain herself.          

Stan joins in on the laughter, "I was, at first, taken by the concept.  But it's the only way to go.   Such a charitable thing would obviously have to be taken care of by donations."   

Stan pauses before repeating, "Dough nations?" 



            
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