SQUIRREL!!!
Proverbs 15:23 To give an appropriate answer is a joy; how good is a word at the right time!
It’s been a few summers ago. I woke up well before the sun had broken the horizon. I was awake and didn’t want to hang out around the house. I made up my mind I was going to head down to the lake for the day to do a little fishing.
I was excited – I went out to the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee while I threw on some clothes and grabbed my gear. I walked out to the kitchen, only to find that the coffee pot had puked grounds and coffee all over the counter. Something obviously either wasn’t in the right place or it was clogged. I didn’t let it phase me, I just cleaned up the mess and decided to stop by a convenience store on the way out. I was going to stop anyway, because I needed ice and some gas for my Jeep.
I made my stop and I was headed south, music playing loud and thoughts of crappie danced in my head. I got about 20 miles south, only to find that construction had the road down to 2 lanes. Not a big deal, I’m still making good time, the sun was barely visible. Then, out of nowhere, well actually from the driveway of the old farm house, comes a tractor and a truck with its flasher on, they’d pulled out in front of me! Hitting the brakes and screaming in my head (or maybe actually out loud), “there is not another person within a mile behind me!”, I continued on my way.
Still I’m headed south, making time – just much, MUCH slower. It’s ok, I’m headed fishing. For the next 7 miles, at no more than 15mph, I followed a green tractor and a mid 80’s pickup truck. The sun was a bit higher in the sky when they finally turned, but I was still excited and now could get back up to highway speed. I only had about 30 miles to go.
I get to the lake, find a spot to park, grab my pole, my tackle box, bait and head the lake. First case, I snag a stick just below the water. I cast a couple of more times and snag the log to which the stick was attached. After tying on another hook and baiting it, I attempt to cast out again, only to find that there was huge bird’s nest (for those that don’t fish, imagine a bunch of string in a huge tangle) in my open-face reel.
I’m now officially discouraged – no I’m mad, ding dang it – I just wanted to fish a bit and look how this has turned out! Anyway, I’m cleaning out the reel and notice a squirrel chattering on a branch maybe 50 feet from me. I can’t see what it’s yelling at, but it did catch my attention. All of a sudden, a second squirrel comes running down the branch. The first squirrel, startled, jumps in the air but instead of landing on the branch, it falls into the water. As it’s falling it’s spread out like it’s trying to grab the air to stop itself. The 2nd squirrel is looking down and chattering, I’d say laughing, because I know I was.
After I dried my tears, I realized God had given me a laugh and the peace I’d been looking for. I cleared out the reel and finally got back to fishing and had a great day.
God puts the right word in our lives – it may be a co-worker, a spouse, your child, a song, or even a squirrel grasping for air, but it’s there. Who knows, you might even be a squirrel for someone today.
“Father, thank you for our friends and family who bring joy into our lives each day. They are a wonderful gift of love from You. Amen”