The Lesson of the Worms

As I was heading to the back door there was my 3 year old. Standing there with a grin that could brush the sky, she stood with hands outstretched. In them I saw the earthen toned wriggling worms. Baffled I asked how she obtained them. Something unintelligible was pronounced and off she went to continue her quest to collect her friends, her “wormies.”

I stood at the window, perplexed. We had not had rain recently and usually when we found accessible worms it was on the sidewalk after a heavy soaking. Peering through the blinds I watched my blond headed beauty standing silently, without any movement. Quickly a robin swooped down and landed on the grass, pecking at the dirt that lay below. My daughter stared, hardly breathing.

The robin then proceeded to pull a worm out of the earth and right at the moment when success was achieved, a shriek blasted out of my 3 year old wonder. Running at the bird, in tandem with her yell, caused the bird to drop the worm. The child then quickly went to the worm, picked it up, and retreated to the edge of the lawn where she once again became a solitary statue. The robin returned and again the same exact event unfolded just as it had before. The same result. Again and again this process continued for several minutes until this daughter of mine came to ask for a cup. Hands full and exultant joy present, she beamed with triumph and I marveled in wonder.

 

If I desire worms, I go buy them or dig them up with a shovel. This child did neither but with patience and faith she obtained her goal. It has always baffled me to see a child’s mind work. This one did not have tools or money, but the result was just as effective as if she had. If a small child can achieve success when the odds are against her, what can I achieve?

Often I find that I am not like my toddler, but like the robin. At the moment of success, the moment when the life sustaining goal has been achieved, something happens. Fear approaches and I drop the prize. Like the beaten bird, I too squawk in fright. Let me feed my family, let me sustain myself! I have worked so hard, so long, and finally when the conditions were right I had everything within my grasp. With doubt and anxiety I fly away in the face of fear. Like the robin, I return to repeat the cycle.

Beaten, the bird finally flies away without realizing that all it needs to do is not let go. That is the only action that is preventing success. The robin did everything correctly, even taking flight at the right moment. Why does it let go then? Why does it suffer hunger, shame and having to return home to a crying nest awaiting their next meal? Many homes in this land have food on the table, but what of spiritual or emotional nourishment? How many broken families are crying out, yearning for spiritual guidance? How do I allow fear or distractions to impede my ability to help nourish and feed my family’s non-physical needs?

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, taught Peter to never let go as he began to walk on water that dark and treacherous night on the Sea of Galilee. Afraid, the disciples sat in their vessel of fear as is evidence when they saw Jesus coming towards them they assumed it was a ghost, their worst nightmare. Their fear was total. They finally realized it was the Savior as he called to them and cut through the storm they were battling. Sparking hope in Peter, he attempted to meet the Savior. The first step, success, and confidence gained. Fear approached once more in the form of the wind and waves. Peter let go.

A lesson is learned as Peter lets go. In seemingly suffocating storms in our lives, when the torrential terrors begin to wash over us, even when we lose all hope, we are not alone. We may drop the prize we have strived for, we may start to slip beneath the surface, but we will always be caught by our Lord and Master. When we begin to sink into the agonizing abyss, we only need reach upwards and He will catch us. Like Peter, he returns us to the safety and shelter we need. Like with Peter and the rest of the disciples, when we place our faith in our Savior He not only comes to us but quiets the storms in our lives. We may lose faith in ourselves. We may gain fear. We can lose our faith in everything around us or become paralyzed, sinking to our death in the tragedy of life. Like Job, we may even lose all that we have, left with only two options. Persist, or give up.

Stripped down to the nakedness of our spiritual selves we have only to make one choice. Placing our faith in Jesus Christ, even when we are on the verge of drowning in fear, pain, loss, or whatever else this life brings, He lifts us out of the devastation we are in.

There I stand, next to the Savior. Cold and wet, dripping in my doubts, disappointment, and despondency, but not alone. With my head hanging low the Savior places his scarred hand on my shoulder and as I gaze upwards I see the rising of the sun. Light peaks above the towering mountain of stone and dirt. Glistening off of the water’s surface that once threatened my existence I see the darkness fade. Gazing into my Savior’s eyes I see that I have been made whole. I see newness of life welling up in the corning of his beaming eyes. Slowly the hope rolls down his eternal face in one everlasting droplet of life.

So there I stand, next to Him. Who am I? A robin of fear or a child of faith…

 -The Feeble Soul

© 2013