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Chapter 16: We Are Bamboo
One by one Jake unfolded the slips of paper to reveal who will be their next leader, “Two votes for Manuel, one for me, one vote for Ellie, one vote for Benjie, another vote for me, and....” It was a tense moment when Jake opened that final paper. He looked down and realized there was a winner. “The next leader of the Highland Ridge Explorers is…me?” Jake said surprisingly. “But, remember, I resigned because I had failed to be honest?” Jake said with confusion. “You still want me to be our leader?” said Jake. “YES!” said the Explorers. Then each of them shook Jake’s hand, congratulating him. Manuel then told Jake, “Clearly we have forgiven you, and so has God. Jake, you need to make a fresh start.” But, Jake was not smiling. He was upset about something. “Explorers, I have an announcement,” Jake announced. Everyone looked at Jake eagerly waiting to hear from their new leader. Page 2 of 6 © RCL Benziger
“I cannot lead the Highland Ridge Explorers next year. Not because I had resigned, but because Benjie and I are moving away.” The group stood still in shock. Benjie started to tear up. “Our dad took a new job in St Louis, Missouri. So we are moving there this summer.” Then Benji started to cry. When Jake saw his little brother in tears, he had to hold back his own tears.
No one said anything. The entire group was shocked by this news. Everyone just took for granted that the Highland Ridge Explorers would always be together. They never thought that they would be separated. Then Marissa quietly walked up to Benji and put her hand on his shoulder. “I think we should ask God to bless Benjie and Jake,” said Marissa. She led the Explorers in prayer, “Oh gentle God, help us to trust in your will. Be with Benjie and Jake and their family as they start a new life in St. Louis. We will miss them. We know that you will take Page 3 of 6 © RCL Benziger
good care of them. Help us to accept what is happening to us too.” Then everyone except Tobi concluded, “Amen.” Tobi shouted, “I will never accept this. Benjie is my best friend in the whole world. Why would God take him away from me?” Tobi ran away from the Explorers. So Benjie ran after him, with Jake immediately behind Benjie.
Benjie caught up to Tobi, and together they sat in stunned silence. Jake stood there watching the two of them and wondered how he was going to console his little brother. He wondered too about the rest of the group. Jake realized again life is full of changes. Then the rest of the Explorers approached them and sat with Benjie and Tobi. Keiko stood up and said, “This might sound silly. I too am sad about Jake and Benjie moving away. Yet in my culture we understand that nothing remains without change. My grandmother once told me that to be happy I need to be like the bamboo, not an oak tree.” Everyone looked perplexed, except Ellie. Page 4 of 6 © RCL Benziger
“I think I understand, Keiko,” explained Ellie, “Though an oak tree is tall and strong, its branches can still break in strong winds. Yet the reeds of a bamboo can bend through strong winds.” Tobi still upset responded, “What? I do not understand.” Rodrigo then put his hand on Tobi’s shoulder and said, “Tobi, we have a choice. We can be like the oak tree or the bamboo.” Tobi still didn’t understand, but Benjie finally understood what Keiko had said.
Benjie looked at his good friend and said, “Tobi, you are my friend. You will always be my friend because we are bamboo. No matter how difficult things get, our friendship will not break.” Jake smiled at his young brother with pride. “Benjie is right! Keiko, thank you!” Jake announced. Rodrigo responded, “Yes, with God’s grace we will persevere through this difficult time. We are disciples. Friends support one another in good times and in bad times. We are friends.” Then Keiko said, “We are bamboo!” And everyone smiled. Page 5 of 6 © RCL Benziger
Marissa then asked, “What are we going to do about our new leader?” Ellie then said, “Well, the second place vote was Manuel.” Jake then asked Manuel, “Would you be our new leader, Manuel?” Manuel sat very still. He knew in his heart that the Explorers would need a strong leader. He wondered if he could be that person.
All the Explorers eagerly waited for Manuel’s response. He replied, “Yes, I am honored to be our next leader. However I will need a whole lot of help to lead as well as Jake has done, so I need all of you to help me.” So the decision was final. Tobi then asked, “So what do we do now?” --------------TIME TO VOTE
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