"It is not luck. It is God's provision. The Lord has been kind to us. Yes many of the other birds have died because of the famine. But we have been sustained."
"Oh! Again. I can't understand how you can say it is given by a God whom you have never seen. I wake up every early morning and strive hard to get the food for me and my family. How can you say it is a God who has given me."
"Dear, who can say that I have done it by my own might. Unless the Lord has given, how will we survive. You said our species has been blessed right? By whom? Shouldnt we also have died like the other birds or animals. Don't you think there are other birds who wake up early. Why, us Ravens alone was spared? I think there is a purpose that God wants with us. A plan that He has. Don't you think?"
"Hmm, that is true. May be there is a God. I can slightly understand what you are saying."
"Yeah good. May be we will talk about it later in the evening. It's time for me to fly."
"Yeah, i have been noticing that. Everyday after you have had your portion, I see that you take a large portion of meat and fly far away to some place. I don't know where you are up to. But i know you are taking it to someone far away. I know you are single and your parents have passed away. Who are you taking it to? Someone whom I know? Or is it someone that you have found to be worth this long flight? You know I have my family to provide. So i couldn't afford to follow you and see. Don't feel bad I noticed this. Infact all of us see it everyday "
"Ah! I know you all might have noticed this. But was not sure how to tell you all. One day i had a dream. An angel was telling me to take a large piece of meat everyday and fly this long distance to Kerieth Brook."
"What? You fly till Kerieth Brook? Oh my! That is quiet far. What is happening there. Who is there so significant that you would dare to?"
"Hold on let me complete. Yeah, so this angel tells me to fly till Kerieth Brook everyday to give meat to someone there."
"Who is that? And why everyday. I am pretty sure the large chunk of meat that you take, would suffice for a fowl, at least a family of it. Or a raven for a week. What is happening. Are you hiding someone. Oh sorry I interrupted. I got excited."
"I was also not very sure. But I felt urged to do this. So the first day I pick up a reasonable sized piece and started flying. Oh! Boy it was quiet tiring. I flew and flew. Wanted to sit in some branch or a piece of rock. But the excitement to know who it was pushed me along. Wanted to know who it was that the angel wanted to give. And meanwhile, i had my doubts too. Will there be someone. Will I be able to find it in the whole of the brook. Will it be a snake or something which was so hungry. That it would eat me instead of the meat. Is it just my thought. Will there actually be someone. Am i just a fool who risked everything because of the dream. Will I ever reach there. If I fall tired here. Will there be anyone to help me. If at all I reach there, where will I get some water. All the rivers in Israel is dried up. Will I have to fly back to find a cracked cistern to get atleast a drop of water. But something inside me urged me to keep flying. Something pushed me. After an hour of continuous flight, i finally got a glimpse of the brook. I was surprised as well as excited to see water flowing."
"Ah! So that's it. Fresh water every day. And you never told any of us. You are so mean. Ok; continue."
"It was not that which motivated me."
"Ok. Then what? What is it that you took the meat for?"
"From a distance i could see a man cuddled in the shade of drying up tree. Sitting in the banks of the brook."
"A man. Out of all species. You had got only a man? Who was it?"
"It was Elijah, the prophet."
"What? It's so ridiculous. Out of all species you got a man to provide for. And out of all men, you got this man who is responsible for all the famine? All of us are suffering because of this man. And he is enjoying there with meat everyday. I can't agree to this. If you were not my friend. I would have beaked you and killed you right now. Even now, I'm not sure whether I should tell it to our king."
"Please listen to me. The next day i had another dream. It was only light. But a very deep voice. Saying, "Mavi....., this is what I want you to do. You have always sought me and lived with a thankful heart to me. I want you to provide for Elijah, everyday with meat and bread till i tell you." I had my own questions. Why me? Will I be able to do it everyday. I'm not very strong. What will others say. The voice continued, "Mavi, i love you and this is the purpose for you. Will you?" I replied, i am willing. And that is how I have been doing it all the more excited later own. Because the Prophet had no one else to talk to. So he would talk to me and tell more about this God. And tell about the reason for the famine. It is because of the sin of Israel. Not because Elijah was cruel. But Ahab and Jezbeel were leading Israel to further sin. Don't you see?"
"Hmm. I know you are a genuinely good raven. What you are saying, the puzzle is slowly getting unraveled. May be it is true. I hope Ahab and Jezbeel would repent and this famine would end. Would you ask the prophet?"
"He is the one who does the talking. I can only understand. I will just listen. He teaches me to pray. May be we both can go together tomorrow. He will help us to pray to the God of Israel."
"Oh! Do you think i can fly that long? Will Elijah accept me? Will God accept? I'm not as holy as you, you know?"
"If it is God who has called. He will enable, Strugi. You are my best friend. You alone knows all my secrets. I am glad that you understood me."
That night Strugi went to sleep with lots of questions in his heart. Is Mavi crazy? Is he cooking up stories? Is he trying to trap me and take me to a vulture or something to kill me? Will he do like that? Slowly Strugi goes to oblivion but he was awakened by a very bright light and a deep voice calling his name, "Strugi............."
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