Not by Sight

You know that analogy about the person or persons in a raft riding the rapids of a river twisting through a deep canyon? They can't see where they're going and what's around the next bend, but fortunately they have somebody looking out for them.


A helicopter hovers above the canyon looking down on them with a clear view of where the raft is, where it's been and what's ahead.


Now comes the most important part of the analogy: A two-way radio.


The helicopter can communicate with the raft. Warning them and giving directions so they can navigate safely, when the river splits ahead of them telling them which direction to go. The raft has to trust the helicopter, disobeying or disregarding the helicopter's instructions can get them hurt, lost or even killed.



Here's another analogy. A small town girl moves to a big city. She isn't used to the traffic much less navigating her way around in a city four times bigger than back home. Six lanes of traffic, exit ramps, entrance ramps, signs, lights every moment feels like you're heading around a blind corner.


Fortunately She has somebody looking out for her. A GPS satellite orbits this planet up in the atmosphere broadcasting signals to GPS receivers all over the world.


The most important part of this analogy is Grandpa and Grandma's GPS receiver attached to the girl's car window. (We would like to interrupt this paragraph with a special "Thank You!" to Grandpa and Grandma) This specific GPS we will now refer to as "Ginger"; Ginger Penelope Siggy. Ginger gives specific turn by turn directions, advises lane changes and alerts you to exits and entrances, with mile by point mile accuracy giving her exact location all the way through the big city.

Ginger has three ways to communicate with this misplaced girl.

1. An audible voice speaks to give instructions and warnings.

2. An animated digital map complete with color coded streets and a cute little blue care to give visual aid.

3. Written instructions are easily read on her bright screen.

Also if the small town girl misses an exit or takes a wrong turn she won't be lost for long because Ginger can get her back on track as fast as you can say "Recalculating".



Both of these analogies correlate with our spiritual journey, walking the Christian path of Faith. We are pilgrims, in this world but not of it. We have a destination a goal but the immediate future is as uncertain as the bend of a river or the exit ramp three lanes over. Every day, every moment we have decisions to make, ruff rapids to struggle through, people all around us, signs pointing every direction, a wrong move can get you hurt, lost or even killed. We can't navigate through life by ourselves.

"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12

Fortunately we have someone looking out for us: An All Seeing, All Knowing, All Powerful Heavenly Father. Most importantly we need to be listening and obeying Him. He's always speaking to us giving us clear directions so that we can walk this road as His children.

He speaks to us in three ways.

1. That great "voice of many waters" and yet "a still small voice" speaks to the hearts of men.

"I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly." Psalms 85:8

2. All around us He has shown His plan in the very earth He created for us if we would only see it.

"But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fish of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath off all mankind." Job12:7-10

3. He wrote it all out in the Bible His own Word for us to read and understand.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105

Also if "we like sheep have gone astray" He will find us and bring is back to Him. He love us and has us in the palm of His hands.

Visiting the Zoo Part 2

The Henry Vilas Zoo is a nice size and we were able to see all of the exhibits in one afternoon we even had time for the Herptiles Pavilion. *cue ominous music *

I have one thing in common with daring adventurer Indian Jones. It’s not his irresistible charm, not his propensity to get in and then out of tight spots, not a shared weapon of choice (I don’t like whips) and It’s not even that sweet hat, we share the same weakness, same fear: Ophidiophobia.

Ophidiophobia or ophiophobia is a fear of snakes. Not herpetophobia, which is just plan ol’ fear of reptiles. I can handle lizards, turtles, dinosaurs….even bugs and spiders; basically any sort of creepy crawly or scary coldblooded animal you wanna throw at me is no problem. But, I hate snakes!

So it was with some trepidation I walked into the pavilion dedicated to frogs, crocodiles, lizard, snakes etc. We browsed about looking at each cage, reading the information and signs. The first snake I saw made my stomach jump, but I calmly looked at it just as I had the alligator in the neighboring tank. I hadn’t realized how many different kinds of snakes this zoo had: Pythons, Rattle-Snakes, Garter Snakes, Boa Constrictors, and a large Anaconda. As we continued on through, pointing out things and talking, I began to feel as if I couldn’t breathe; my chest was tight and getting tighter. I was going to explode from trying to keep the panic down as I helped Lukie spot and identify five different snakes camouflaged in their environment. Fear was growing I could not suppress or ignore it.

It was irrational: there was nothing to be afraid of and I knew it, which scared me even more. I’ve always been able to force myself to be calm, to go back, after the initial reaction of running away and taking a good look at the source of my fear. I’d even endured the horror of holding a little boys pet snake. I’d always determined not to let fear rule, but this time I was afraid that I would lose the battle. My enemy had never felt so strong; I was shocked that I hadn’t been able to keep it in check as I usually could. I took a moment to pray and work on breathing. I thought of my sister and her fear of mice, a fear that I had not been able to understand. I had been pushing her to “get over it” I’d tried talking to her about the ridiculous and unfounded reasons for being afraid of a harmless, annoying perhaps, but pretty much harmless little mouse. Here I was face to face with my fear. Every moment it grew harder and harder to keep my head and I felt sympathy for her. Is this what it felt like when she was trying to sleep with a mouse-trap under her bed at night?

As difficult and awful as it was, I learned two things in the zoo’s herptiles pavilion. Sometimes we have no idea what a person is struggling with and if we don’t understand it, there’s even more reason to be patient and kind with them. I also saw my own fear bigger and clearer than ever, but I’m considering this an advantage. I still plan on fighting and defeating this fear whenever it raises its diamond shaped head. Thinking back on it now I didn’t completely succumb to my fear and perhaps I did come out as the victor of that battle. I’m plan on winning the war. This means, I’m planning on touring the WHOLE zoo on my next visit, even the snakes.