This morning on my way to the office, (after I had stopped by for my morning cup of “Red Eye” from my favorite coffee distributor), something caught my attention. So much so, that even as I drove past this event, I continued to watch it unfold through my rear view mirror!
I saw a squirrel with 2 cheeks full of nuts, most definitely harvesting for the long winter chill here in North Central Iowa. This squirrel was bounding through someone’s front yard, racing to the street. Now on this street, a certain SUV was clipping along about 40 MPH, certain to be this squirrel’s doom. Not wanting to be the one to end this little critter’s life, I honked. The squirrel applied its brakes, pulled a 180˚ turn, and raced back towards the safety of the oak tree that it had just come from.
As I passed by, I looked through my rear view mirror only to see the squirrel racing back to the street in desperation to cross the road. To its dismay, there was a string of trucks behind me. The little fellow chose not to take the chance and raced back to the tree. I badly needed to know if he made it across, so a few hours later I drove back past the stage of the event, finding no evidence of the little guy NOT making it! Thank goodness!
As I drove past this little squirrel, I thought of the many times I have heard the Lord say to me, “I need you over here!” But my life, full of all the things I think I need, or concerns I have for the journey, or just the emotions that say, “You won’t make it!” cause me to find myself hampered from the race to the other side of the road. In my own wisdom, I’m storing up treasures that the world will corrode with moths of apathy and the rust of self-pleasure. While I am yearning for the safety of sitting in the palms of my God who loves me and in whom I can always trust, I’m still letting the desires of “me” get in the way of the plan from HIM!
As you know, many squirrels don’t make it to the other side of the road. Why? Because they don’t know how to calculate speed, or maybe they have too many things in their cheeks that sap the speed they need to outrun a 40 MPH SUV! Just like many of us don’t make it to the place God has called us to be. However, this morning I am reminded of the words so faithfully spoken through the years, found in Proverbs 3:5-8…
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.
We all know verses 5 & 6, but it is in 7 & 8 that the rubber really hits the road. (Sorry Mr. Squirrel, no pun intended…) When we lose our own instincts of self-preservation and self-gratification, we rest in the fear (the AWESOMENESS) of the Lord. And we have health and strength for the journey…
…You know the journey that would begin if we would listen to Him, when He says,
“I need you over here!” Ex. 14:15-18