One day as I was driving along minding my own business. I was in my own I’ve-never-hit-a-squirrel world when, suddenly, two of them dashed out into the middle of the road. From what I could observe, seeing as how I wasn’t personally involved in the exchange, there was some sort of battle. Squirrel one would chase squirrel two. Then, the tables turned and squirrel two was now chasing squirrel one. Back and forth these two squirrels went across the road and did not even pay attention to the fact that two vehicles were approaching and both their little squirrel lives were in jeopardy. That’s how consumed they were in their battle.
About a week or so later, I had another squirrel encounter. I was, again, driving along and minding my own business. I was again blissful in my own I’ve-ever-hit-a-squirrel world when I saw one moseying along across the road. Unlike the two larger ones I saw squabbling, this one was a little smaller and therefore cuter. This squirrel got about 95% across the road to the other side when the sound of my vehicle clearly spooked it. It made an instant 180 and darted back to the other side of the road.
Both encounters revealed a mindset that can cause one to miss out on the greater. Either I’m so consumed by my battle that I don’t sense impending danger or I get spooked out of reaching my next destination.
There are times in life when we can become so consumed by the problem that it monopolizes our full attention. So much so that we don’t even recognize other looming dangers because we are focused on the minutiae of this current struggle. The danger that presents for us is…danger. There’s a saying You can’t see the forest for the trees. That’s an apt proverb in terms of…minutiae. I don’t realize that there is a forest when what I’m focusing on is this tree. So like those two squirrels engrossed in a battle, I lose sight of everything around me. Not just other looming dangers, but victories and paths of escape as well.
On other occasions, we are almost where we need to be. So close that we can actually just reach out and touch it. But something makes us turn back and revert to the place we once were. That something can be anything ranging from fear to self doubt. Even outside forces. Whatever it is, it was something that made us give up right before we reached that finish line. A finish line that was within sight.
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes find that when I’m almost at the finish line for something, the challenges seem to intensify. Whether my physical body begins to feel the toll and tiredness or hunger try to swarm in or emotional struggles begin to cloud my judgment. Either way, the journey suddenly seems harder. But as a person of faith, one lesson I learn each day is the value of perseverance.
If we say that we trust and believe God for whatever it is we lay before him, then we need to be all in with our faith. No wavering. Let’s not be like that squirrel that gave up and turned around. Even when we don’t understand the journey or see the signs we think we should see, allow your faith in God to consume those moments of uncertainty and keep pressing forward.
Stay Sunny!
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