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.
