Snow Geese : Sojourners
These are Snow Geese. As their name implies, their “natural” location is in the far, far North. They nest on the arctic tundra, defining home for the next generation. Snow Geese live in large flocks, numbering into the thousands of birds. And during the depths of winter, the snow-covered wastes would never support them. So they fly south. I saw this flock in the desert of West Texas. In my own naive way, though, there was something fascinating, almost incongruous, about seeing a “snow” bird flourishing in this aridity. But thinking a bit deeper, even this desert - when it is punctuated with water like Lake Balmorhea - can support life until the geese return to the North. The desert can be manageable. The geese sojourn here.
The Israelites sojourned in Egypt for 210 years. Jospeh of course had been brought to Egypt as a slave, and Jacob sent his remaining sons there to buy food on a one-off basis. After their reunion, Pharaoh invited Joseph to bring his relations to Goshen, but even as their descendants filled the territory, it always remained a “land that is not theirs.” Their stay was more than a quick visit but less than a permanent settlement. They “sojourned.” It’s a fascinating word, implying a lengthy presence - multiple generations lived and died there - but it also carries with it a clear demarcation between belonging and not. The Israelites clearly flourished over the years, growing numerous and strong, but it is equally clear that they were always considered a people apart, not belonging.
In modern life, we psychologically sojourn, being in a place without becoming part of it - or it becoming part of us. We all know people working jobs that neither capitalize on the person’s skills nor provide meaningful fulfillment. We all know people living in unaccepting communities, lacking meaningful and deep connection. Sadly we all know people suffering in relationships from which they seemingly cannot move on. Torah - our water in our desert - tells the inspiring story of a community’s liberation from challenging straits. Our belonging is rooted in a covenant of peoplehood that waters the spiritual desert. The Geese instinctually return to their native place. We too can come home after sojourning.