I love how God never stops teaching us through creation. I was jogging about an hour ago and I saw a squirrel running gracefully across a wire. Isn’t it amazing how nimbly and easily a squirrel can traverse electric and telephone wires, leap from tree to tree on the smallest of branches, and rest easily amongst the leafy canopies of green?
But what happens when a squirrel finds itself in the middle of the road?
Have you ever watched a squirrel in the middle of the road with oncoming traffic? As Dave Ramsey noted at Catalyst Conference, leaders can’t have a squirrel mentality – a leader cannot be completely unable to make a decision. A squirrel in the wide open road will start to run one way and then, with rabbit-like (shall I say squirrel-like?) speed, change directions, darting back and forth, looking one way and then the other, and often will find itself at the very wrong place at the wrong time, on the bottom of a tire.
So, what is God teaching us? Think again of that squirrel on a wire. They are on a straight path, knowing exactly where they want to go and doing so with great ease. They are doing what they were created to do – climb and amble on small, thin branches – and away from danger. But, let a squirrel get out in the open, on the ground, and suddenly they are frozen with indecision about the right way to go.
In the same way, when we are doing what we are designed for – loving God and others and following His call for our life – we can live at ease from danger and fulfilled with purpose. When we leave the straight paths of the Father, we find ourselves wrecked with the rush of oncoming traffic, noise, and choice.
There are many other lessons from squirrels, not the least of which is storing away food for the hard times, a lesson well worth pondering during financial down times, but, like a squirrel, save that for another day.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Psalm 19:1-3