Ka-Thunk!
Running and exploring were the joy of her life. There was nothing better that when mom opened the door of the house to go streaking outside, rushing to the far corner of the yard before turning to run the fence line to the pasture gate, whirling across the open yard to the opposite side and then racing back across the front of the house to climb the hay bales where she was queen of all she surveyed. Oh, the joy of puppy-hood.
Today was not as hot and running was especially good after being cooped up in the house. After her first circuit of her run she trotted to the corner to start all over again. Going for a speed record, she mapped out in her mind her path through the yard.
Tensing she raced past the trailers along the first line of fence. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw it--a huge cottontail rabbit--IN HER YARD! Wheeling about with barely a pause of motion she rushed through the round bales of hay bearing down on her prey.
The rabbit, realizing the mortal danger approaching fled through the bales, across the open ground and under the first trailer. It could hear the thundering sound of paws behind it. Kicking up its speed the rabbit dashed from under the first trailer to the next and on through the fence and across the neighboring yard. Not daring to slow, it raced for its very life.
She saw her quarry break away from the hay bales toward the trailers. She pursued. Rushing toward the trailer, she stretched her body long and low, almost sliding underneath with on fluid motion. Gathering her legs under her, she spied the rabbit coming out the other side of the next trailer heading for the fence line. She knew that she could catch it if she just added a bit more speed.
In hot pursuit, she lunged and stretched out as long and low as she could make herself. She was upon the next trailer and glanced up slightly to sight her target. KA-THUNK!
The world exploded in brilliant colors. Stars sparked through her vision. She found her body on the ground as everything seemed to explode he pain around her. Opening her eyes, all she saw was grass and a rusty bumper. The very air seemed to sizzle with pain.
Gingerly standing, she shook her head as she tried to clear away the confusion. What in the world just happened? Looking about, the rabbit was nowhere to be found--just mom moving toward her--laughing.
"Baby girl, are you alright?" mom asked as she reached for her and gently probed through her fur. "Silly girl, you ran straight into the side of the trailer. You're too big to fit under it there." Still shaking her head, she went home with her mom--trying to figure out where her plan had failed her. "Stupid rabbit! Tricks are for kids."
In life, we often make a plan and while working our plan something catches our eye or distracts us. We turn and pursue the new "thing" without thought or plan--we just pursue it. When it all works out, we are applauded for our quick thinking, good instincts, and decision making. When it doesn't . . . we often find ourselves flat on the ground, shaking the stars out of our eyes, with pain radiating all around. We question, scream, rant, and blame God for everything wrong in our lives.
The problem is that the failure isn't God's. The failure may not be ours either. Sometimes, you are running the course of life and just run headlong into the side of an immoveable object. Those are times to stop, shake off the pain, regroup, think it all through, evaluate our motives, and turn a different way or make a new plan. Sometimes, we are so focused upon what we see ahead that it takes something stopping us and turning us just slightly to see there is a different path--a different purpose.
God, we run headlong after the things we want and think we need. Often we ignore the warning signs along the way as we pursue our dream. When he run into an obstacle that blocks our desired path, help us to stand again, clear our heads, and turn to look for your leading. Help us, always to walk with you. Open our eyes and minds to your ways. So be it. Amen.
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