Tripping Over Typeset

In the first few weeks of living here I was sitting in my favorite place–my back deck. The sun was shining and a soft breeze was blowing through the trees.

As I sat there enjoying a book and soaking in the vitamin D I heard a rustling in the trees. My first thought was “there’s something in there… deer, dog, BEAR!!!”  Not a bear really, but I knew something was making all kinds of commotion in them there trees. I isolated the noise, not to the ground, but near the top– 40-50 feet up.  The tops of the trees were rustling and not from the breeze.

I was a little afraid to investigate in case whatever it was decided to come after me from their perch high above.

By calling Dave out and staying planted on my porch, he figured out it was squirrels jumping from treetop to treetop. They were up there playing around.

I thought, “That’s crazy! They are so high up, what if they fall?”

But after I discovered what was making the rustling, my fear of attacking bears was gone and the noise faded from my attention.

I didn’t really think of it again until autumn when all the leaves had fallen and bare branches were left to view.

And that’s when I saw it.

I even got out my camera to zoom in just to make sure.

I googled to see if my conclusion could be possible and it was!

Up in those trees, 40-60 feet off the ground, that mama grey squirrel had made her nest.

“Is she crazy? What kind of mother endangers her babies by letting them jump around that high off the ground?”

And this quiet voice interrupted my thoughts: They were made for that!  They were made specifically to survive and thrive at that height.

That mama squirrel protected her babies by putting them up there. She also prepared them quickly for the life of tree survival… running and jumping from place to place. They knew nothing different.

I sat on my deck amazed.

They were uniquely made for that adventure and that kind of life.

And that got my own thoughts going.

• For what adventure are we uniquely made?
• What skills, talents and giftings are we custom-made?

We have them. We may not always recognize them as talents or skills. But they are! It’s how we were custom-made.

I used to think my ability to organize and decorate a home was nothing. Then I realized those areas don’t come easy for everyone. There are some who don’t even think in that realm.

My crazy way of noticing prepositional phrases and proper verb usage in publications while simply reading is a bit odd. I continually “edit” while I read. I can’t help it. It’s just the way I’m wired and uniquely made.

Those custom-built features have prepared me for what I do.

You are the same way.

You have giftings and quirky ways about you that make you proficient in who you are as a person.

• Some of you have a math brain and numbers come easy for you. — That is not me!
• Some people are custom-made to be empathetic and see the needs of others. You meet those needs with ease because that’s how you are made.
• Some have mechanically built brains and you can fix any kind of gadget or gizmo.
• Some have the ability to package ideas well and sell ice to people in Alaska!

The list is endless in the ways we are uniquely made.

Which brings me to the question: Are we living the adventure custom-made for us?

God has a plan and purpose for each of us.

He made those squirrels with the ability to jump from tree to tree. They can thrive up there because that’s how they are made.

When that incident with the squirrels happened I thought, “If that was me, I’d snuggle up to that trunk. I’d cautiously crawl to some place more secure and wait it out.”

Again that quiet voice urged me forward and whispered: “Your fears keep you from the adventure.”

I knew it was true.

I also knew I would have to make the jump if I wanted something different.

Since then I’ve been leaning into this life adventure and learning to risk more. I’m jumping more frequently. I’m discovering that I’m not crashing through the limbs below like I thought I would.

It’s good that God is patient with us as we take steps of faith.

Our God has chosen you…We pray that by His power He will make every good thing you have planned come true. We pray He will make perfect all that you have done by faith. ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:11

Taking those steps of faith can be risky. Jumping into adventures takes trust in our Creator who made us uniquely for this life.

How can we do this?

• Look fear in its face– Fear has a way of keeping us close to the tree trunk. When faced with a faith jump, our “what if’s” can dominate our thinking. Instead we need to evaluate our fears, line them up with what God says and then act in line with Truth.
• Trust the One who says, JUMP – when God calls us to take faith jumps, it’s not to see us fail and fall but to stretch our ability and our belief in who He is and what He can do. Trusting Him will help us make the jump.
• Take the jump – God has great adventures and plans for our lives. Staying close to the trunk may seem like the best idea. And we may feel safe there but taking the jump is part of the adventure.  You were made for this– have confidence in Him and you!

I love what the writer of Hebrews says:

“Do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” – Hebrews 11:35-36

Right after this, the writer goes into the great faith chapter of the Bible — Hebrews 11 — There is the list of those in the past who have taken the jump and lived a life of faith adventures.

That’s where you can be listed as well.

You can be one who looks fear in the face, trusts your Creator and takes the jump into a life of faith adventure!

Be an adventurer — You can do it!

 ~~Rachel

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Jump into the conversation below:

• What new adventure are you jumping into?
• What keeps you from jumping into new adventures?
• How can we pray for you?

Linking up with: #HeartEncouragement,