| Tuesday, June 9, 2009 |
| The Turtle and the Dove (Andrea Garrison) |
I love animals, well most animals - anything that slithers or is green does not count. My house backs up to a creek and there is a wonderful hiking trail along the creek that I walk on a regular basis. I see all kinds of critters as I walk. Part of my journey takes me down a street that ends in a cul-de-sac. The homes along this street are grand and they all back up to a lake. One day as I was walking I saw a big turtle in the middle of the street; his shell was the size of a dinner plate. I said to him, okay you are probably wondering how I know it is a make turtle, well here is why I was 100% certain:
A. He was in the middle of the street meaning ...
B. He was lost ...
C. He hadn't asked for directions
Anyway, I said to him, "Mr. Turtle, you are going to get run over." He immediately drew himself into his shell. Obviously, I had humiliated him and embarrassed him. I picked him up, sat him in one of the yards (pointed towards the lake of course) and went on my way. As I rounded the cul-de-sac and came back to where I had placed him, he hadn't moved and he was just starting to peek out to see if all was safe.
A few days later I was walking the cul-de-sac and I noticed a beautiful little dove. As I got closer she didn't fly away, she just walked away from me. Okay, you are probably wondering how I know she is a female. Here is how I know:
A. She didn't seem lost
B. She looked more like she was "window" shopping - probably for a light lunch or something ...
C. She was calm
D. She was out in public and she looked good!
Each time I got a little closer to her she would just walk away, always staying a little ahead of me. I squatted down for a closer look and we stared at each other for a moment (yes, I did have grand illusions or maybe they were delusions, of being a Disney princess and all the cute little animals and birds would come flocking to me). I thought about trying to pick her up and move her out of the street but she didn't seem to need rescuing like Mr. Turtle. I truly think she would have let me pick her up but something compelled me not to. The next day as I rounded the cul-de-sac she was there. I know it was the same little dove because as I approached she just walked away ... I wondered if she had been out of the street at all during the previous night so I decided today I would pick her up and move her into the grass. Just as I reached for her she stepped slightly away from me, spread her wings and flew away.
I started to think about the differences in Mr. Turtle and Miss Dove and how their reactions to me compared to my walk of faith. Was I a Mr. Turtle? Did I, when the opportunity came to help someone in need draw into my shell? When the opportunity arises to share the good news of salvation, do I retreat into my shell and wait until I feel it is safe to come out? Do I stay "secure" in my shell? Am I intimidated when it comes to stepping out of my comfort zone in the name of God?
Or ... am I like Miss Dove? Do I walk among the lost and share a calming thought of Jesus' love? Do I spread my wings and fly to share the news of salvation and God's unfailing love? Do I stand my ground, unafraid and strong in God's grace? Do I overcome my fear and boldly speak of what God can and will do for all of us?
What are you? Are you a Mr. Turtle or are you a Miss Dove? I have decided that I do not want to retreat, I want to fly! I want to soar to new heights and I want to share the victories and blessings God has given me. I don't want to live my life in a shell. I want praise God in good times, have His comfort during the bad times and trust Him in all times. The choice is yours ... retreat or fly!Labels: Seeing God in the Everyday |
posted by gm @ 1:26 PM  |
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| 1 Comments: |
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Well said, Andrea. Sometimes a turtle, sometimes a dove...Doves are certainly not a perfect speciman of motherhood...they build a terrible nest, lose their eggs to rain and predators,and make ungainly, clumsy landings. They do, however, succeed and thrive, because they try again: build another nest, lay some more eggs (usually three times in the spring to make up for their nestmaking abilities)... They try, try, and try again until they succeed..just like us!
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Well said, Andrea. Sometimes a turtle, sometimes a dove...Doves are certainly not a perfect speciman of motherhood...they build a terrible nest, lose their eggs to rain and predators,and make ungainly, clumsy landings. They do, however, succeed and thrive, because they try again: build another nest, lay some more eggs (usually three times in the spring to make up for their nestmaking abilities)... They try, try, and try again until they succeed..just like us!