The First Encounter

Elliott stood there towering over the older hunched over Freddy. “Yes, I am Elliott. Who told you my name?”?

Freddy pointed to the only scarecrow on their post. “I spoke with Gage and he told me about you.”?

Elliott, looking confused, asked, “Who is Gage and how does he know who I am?”?

Freddy stepped closer to the overly stuffed scarecrow, reached out his hand and said, “ Elliott nice to meet you. I am Freddy and I’m the coach you never knew you had but the one you always wanted.”?

Jason just watched as this exchange was happening right in front of him. Then Freddy motioned for Jason to come into that conversation.?

“This is Jason, he is also your coach and the farmer of this great field. He is the one who brought you back here to be part of his great team.” Jason stepped up and gave Elliott a fist bump, then stepped back behind Freddy. He didn’t remember Elliott being so big when he brought him to the field.?

“ What do you mean coach?” Elliott asked in a frustrated voice. “ I have been out here all alone and to be honest I’m doing a great job.” Before Elliott could speak anymore Freddy spoke up.?

“Elliott, I am going to stop you alright there. First you are not alone. There are three other teammates out here in this field to help you protect this maze. Elliott if I can be honest with you, this maze isn’t looking so hot. If there were a score of who is winning the critters or scarecrows. The critters are up going into halftime.”?

Elliott stepped back and looked down at Freddy, then looked toward Jason. “Well, if I have teammates out here then they must be slacking off. It’s time for them to step up! Why haven’t I seen them around here?”

Freddy started to climb Eliotts post to get a better view. Jason was concerned for the older man's safety, so he went over to hold the post steady and possibly catch Freddy if he fell backwards.?

“Ah Ha!” Shouted Freddy as he grabbed something big and slid back down the pole with it. Freddy with his feet safely back on the ground now, was holding a large rectangular object. As he began to spin it around the sun reflected off it and hit Jason right in the eyes!?

“This is one of our problems Elliott.” Freddy said as he was pointing at the large mirror that Elliott had rigged up. “Why is that my problem? Is it bad that I want to see how good I look while I am up there. This time of day the sun is perfect for a great reflection. I have to be ready when the crowds come to see me. I have to make sure they are impressed! Oh and this team you're talking about they must be slacking if the maze is being overtaken. This can’t fall all on my shoulders. It's Jason's maze, he should be out here chasing the critters off too then!” Elliott responded defensively.?

Freddy smiled and pointed to Elliott’s post, “Head up there and tell me what you see now.” He said to Eliott who was checking himself out in the mirror. “Elliott!” Freddy shouted, shaking Elliott out of striking a pose for the mirror.?

“Ok!” Elliott yelled back as he began to climb the post. Once reaching the top a gust of cool autumn breeze rushed past him, blowing some of his stuff out. He stood up on his perch, his imagination took over for a moment. There were crowds of people standing around waiting to take pictures with him. They were wearing Elliott T-Shirts and a hat just like his. Another big gust of wind almost blew him off his post. Coming back to reality he took an inventory of his surroundings, it was like he was on a different farm. He could see the other post with scarecrows positioned on them. Except one of them, the one that was closest to him. As he looked around the maze he could see what Freddy was talking about. The critters were having a field day, especially right at the entrance which is right under his post.?

Elliott quietly climbed back down the post. At the bottom he just stood there looking at Jason and Freddy. “ Well, that was a wake up call.” Elliott said, looking toward the ground now.?

Freddy took Elliott over and sat him down on an old fertilizer bucket. “ Elliott, the problem is when you magnify something, only that one thing gets bigger. Everything else is blocked out by that larger object. That mirror was magnifying you and only you. The image of yourself was blocking your vision of the larger picture.” Freddy stopped for a moment as he grabbed a seat next to him on one of the bales of hay at the entrance of the maze.?

“What did you see up there once you were able to see the bigger picture?” Freddy asked as Jason stood watching anxiously. “I saw the other scarecrow posts you talked about, there was one missing by the way. I also saw that right under my post was one of the worst spots of the maze.”?

Freddy put his hand on Elliotts shoulder and softly explained, “I’m glad you saw the other scarecrow posts. Because you keep talking about wanting to be impressive. Tom Brady has a supporting cast of teammates. Individual players can impress the crowd on particular plays, but what really impresses a crowd is when their team wins the game. For that to happen the team has to be impressive as a collective. Without an impressive line to block the defense to give Tom Brady the time to make the impressive pass there is no first down. If you think about it, team sports are always played on a much bigger field or court than individual sports. For example a football field from endzone to endzone is 100 yards long or 300 feet and 50 yards or 150 feet wide. A boxing ring is 20 feet by 20 feet, you can fit 15 boxing rings from endzone to endzone and almost 8 from sideline to sideline. That’s about 120 boxing rings you can fit on a football field. This field you are protecting isn’t an individual effort, the responsibility is too large.”?

Elliott looked at Freddy and before he could say anything Freddy continued, “ By trying to be the main attraction, you have actually become a distraction. You have distracted yourself from the goal of protecting this field, you have distracted yourself from seeing the teammates you are letting down, lastly you have distracted yourself from the disappointment of the community and their beloved corn maze. The maze is the main attraction, without the maze you are just straw on a stick.”?

Freddy stood up and started to walk back toward the side by side. Then turned around and said, “ Elliott one last thing. It’s not Jason’s job to protect this field. He brought you all in to do that. He already put the time, energy, and money into the field. In addition he also waters and fertilizes it. Shame on you for thinking it's his responsibility, when he has put his trust and business in the four of you. Elliott you are the number one scarecrow for a reason. But if you can’t start to lead by example and get out of your own way,? you may not have the opportunity to see the first guest walk through that enter here sign. The sign of a true number one Elliott is being humble enough to not be number one.”

With that Freddy turned the key to the side by side and went to put it in reverse. When he looked up to begin backing up Elliott was standing there.?

“Freddy, I don’t know what to say. No one has ever said anything like that to me before. You have really opened my eyes to a larger responsibility that is bigger than I can ever be. I am just one gear that keeps this maze moving. I have found a new purpose because of the purpose of the maze. Which all comes back to the community who will enjoy it. Thank you”

Freddy smiled and gave Elliott a wink and he and Jason backed out of the entrance and began driving back to the house.?

Jason sat there taking in the cool evening autumn air as they drove through the freshly cut fields. Finally Freddy looked over and said, “Well one down three to go. We don’t have a lot of time so we need to get to two tomorrow. I will be here early in the morning. We need to catch Lukewarm Luke in the act. To do that we have to catch him when he least expects us to be there.”?

Jason nodded and reached for his phone to set a double alarm so he wouldn’t be late this time!?

The two then rode the rest of the way back in silence taking in the fresh fall night.?