Enthusiastically, Dawn

Today I decided to take a walk to the library. I figured I was killing two birds with one stone, except no birds would be involved, and definitely not killed. At least not on my watch. And stones are for collecting, not killing. At least in my world. Back to the birds I needed to not kill…or the checks I hoped to check off my list. A walk, fresh air- equaling my exercise for the day, and picking up the book on hold at the library.

I laced my sneakers and headed out the door. It was cool, sunny, with the hint of fall that makes me long for all things autumn. As I was passing the playground, I noticed something on the sidewalk, clearly moving toward the road. It took a few seconds for my brain to process the six-inch or so creature making his way to the edge of the sidewalk.

He stopped in his tracks midway between the road and the playground, technically in the middle of the sidewalk, watching me. I was a statue, waiting for the next move. I have learned from many turtle saving experiences it’s best to give them a minute. He had spotted me, and was debating how much of a risk I was compared to getting where he wanted to go today. How this looked to those driving by, I have no idea. Especially once he decided to turn and go back toward the grassy area of the playground and park areas. You think that would be enough for me. But no.

I comment to God casually, “Why did you make me this way?” Because, after all He is with me. He knows me, and He knows I can’t just let these things go. Because here I am off track on my walk to the library and am in full RESCUE mode. These moments interrupt my day and remind me of things that go as deep as the roots of the tree I am hiding behind so my turtle friend won’t know how determined I am to see him NOT dead in the road. My conversation with God …peppered with prayer continues…because this detour leads down a road with many woes.

My mind reels at the speeding cars, the lack of safe places for turtles…for anyone this side of eternity. The obliviousness we all share in while walking, driving, living through a day. My mind goes down the road because I have spent most of my life trying to save, protect, help random creatures that stray my way…and a few people thrown in for good measure. The carelessness so prevalent in the world wears a soul down. The reality that one turtle matters so little to most people. That one life…any life matters at all to anyone.

I am going down the road that leads me straight to the one life I could not protect no matter how I tried, no matter how many prayers I prayed. How to save a life in a world that has turned its back so completely on the preciousness of small things that seem insignificant. A world that would just as easily drive over whatever is in its way rather than pause. A world where what is precious in God’s eyes is disposable and what is perverse and hateful is exalted.

When small things don’t matter, it’s easy to let the bigger things go. It’s so easy to become numb, blind.

I hear the response like a whisper within. I know it’s not me, because I know I don’t trust what I can’t see. I am, at almost 6o, still learning.

“Do you trust me”

This is usually how the conversation goes. Do I trust God with the small things? The things I can’t see, understand, comprehend? Every obstacle in my life slams me into the same wall.

Do I trust Him?

Do I trust this God I can’t see with the small, precious things of my life? Are they not all His?

I attend this classroom of faith every day I am here on planet Earth. It takes faith to stand up and fight for what is good and right. And sometimes it takes the same faith to refrain from speaking and walk away. It takes the greatest faith of all to believe the One who is in control of all things seen and unseen is trustworthy, faithful, true. And that as we go through our hard days of seeing so many bad things, living through loss after loss, there is still in our midst something good. Someone good. I know HIs name. It’s Jesus. And He is Faithful and True. He cares for the tender, small and unseen things that others discard, ignore and toss aside and He cares for you.

I know because He cares for me, and has given me this crazy, incomprehensible gift of faith that burns in my heart like a wildfire. He has given me a heart for the things He cares about, whether a Spotted Turtle on the road or a stranger (strangers are friends we don’t know yet, right?) in need. And He walks with me through these days, as I wander and wonder- waiting for His appearance, waiting for the One who keeps promises- time after time for all time.

Thank you for reading- I pray God used these words to reveal something good for your soul today. I pray you know and see Jesus a little better, clearer in light of my sharing my life in a minute moment.

Enthusiastically, Dawn