Over the past weekend, I went camping to a place called the Pinery. It was a beautiful place with beauty, adventure, and a place for opportunities for God to speak. He did. This time he chose to speak to me through a family of wild turkeys.

I was walking in a forest along a path frustrated, for it felt that my friend and I had been walking the path forever and getting nowhere special. I was losing patience. I heard that still voice inside saying, "Pay attention." So as normal, I kept going and as I came around a corner I realized something was moving in the leaves. Sure enough, a group of wild turkeys were walking in a line across the path. As I observed them quietly I saw a few things:

1)      The turkeys were walking in unison and walking straight ahead.

2)      No turkey was out of line.

3)      The turkeys trusted their leader to cross them safely.

  4)      One baby turkey needed some help crossing and so the last turkey nudged him one foot at a time till he crossed safely. (The baby must have been terrified and did not want to cross with us watching him). 

This created a beautiful picture that reminded me that there are times in our lives where we trust the leader just like many of the little turkeys did, safely and confidently without straying. There are other times when we are the leader and people are following us for we are giving them direction or guidance in an area of their lives. Sometimes though, we are the turkey at the end that needs patience to extend a helping hand to the one who is trailing behind or who needs some help along the way.

How many times have you been the baby turkey who just needed some pushing from God to keep moving straight ahead? How many times have you needed to just take it one step at a time so that you could at least keep moving forward? Have you ever been the turkey who needed to help someone else who was struggling to keep moving forward in life and realized you needed patience?

Life has many circumstances, some in which you are leading and trusting fully, and other times when you need some convincing and a little nudge. God reminded me though that there are times in our lives that we need to help someone take one step at a time and not rush them on their journey. We have all heard the saying that “patience is a virtue,” but I am learning it is the key to helping others progress forward. 

The bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 New International Version (NIV),

¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

It also says in Ephesians 4:2 (NIV),

² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

What I can see from both verses is that we must learn to be patient with everyone, the strong and the weak, the disheartened and the courageous. We must be patient and endure with each other and ultimately do it in love. This is a task that requires time and taking it one day and one step at a time. What would have happened if the last turkey pushed the baby across? Would the baby feel confident the next time it had to cross? The baby turkey is better off learning how to cross on its own. It just needed a little encouragement. God always gives us time and space, but he gives us the encouragement and sometimes a nudge to keep moving forward and make it past the obstacle. God knows it starts with a step.

One foot in front of the other is a good way to approach life. Many times I have been the baby turkey just trying to take one step at a time with a little nudge from either from parents, a mentor, or God himself. However, lately I have been the one in line nudging people to keep moving forward. This has been a challenge for it is not easy to get someone moving if they want to remain still and where they are. However, God has shown me to appreciate the little steps and don't worry about the time it takes to get to the destination. He gives the patience for everyday we just need to walk in it. God doesn't fret and neither should we. Just like the baby turkey we will eventually all arrive at the destination, despite any hesitation along the way.

One foot in front of the other is a good mantra. But let's remember that it’s not just a cute saying or song, we truly need to appreciate the little steps and sometimes being willing as leaders to give the little nudges. For we are all going to cross and arrive if we work together. We can learn something from the wild turkeys. No one is the weak link everyone at times is like the little turkey, we just need a little help to get there.