We need each other on this journey of life.  During my last trip to India a heron, a goat and some fleas shed new light on this truth.

On our last morning together, Richard, David and I drove to “His Rest” retreat center for a time of conversation, meditation and prayer.  I had been looking forward to this time for over two weeks.  This incredibly scenic and quiet place is so unusual in the noisy, hectic and crowded places typical of India.   But sadly, as we approached the retreat center, we found that the last narrow section of road was impassable due to construction.  I was extremely disappointed.

However, on the spur of the moment  Richard suggested we re-route our day trip to the small plot where he hopes to someday build a house for his family.  This location is another quiet place where the Samuels have been planting trees and flowers for the last several years.  After we arrived, it didn’t take long to set up our camp chairs and begin our time together.

Soon after we began talking, we looked around to see a frail looking man tying up three goats to trees.  Richard said recently the goats had been eating the new plants in the compound.  With the goats secure, the worker scythed grass from around the trees and put a pile within reach of each goat.

Once the goats were settled in and eating this meal prepared for them, I noticed several herons that had flown into the compound and were sitting in the tops of the trees where the goats were tied.  Soon each heron came to the ground and started doing a strange dance with a partner goat as they both became comfortable with each other.  Richard explained that goats are tormented by hundreds of fleas living in their hair and sucking their blood.  The goats have no way to defend themselves against these little pests.  The herons slowly came nearer to each of the goats until they were close enough to reach in and grab a flea right off the back of the goat.

Now they were in the middle of a complementary process.  The heron was having a high protein meal, and the goat was relieved of a pest against which it had no other defense.

The herons, goats and fleas form a picture of our life together as the Body of Christ.  Like fleas, sin takes hold so easily and feasts on us.  We seem to be defenseless as the sin grows and sucks life out of us.  We need to allow others to be close enough to us to see the sin that so easily ensnares us and to help us pluck it off.  As three brothers in Christ took time to worship, pray, and be together in a quiet place in India, God gave us a picture of life together as He intended it.