Last week we took Sam and Spencer to the Pet store to get a snail that Spencer was promised he could have as a pet. After one full week of caring for Freddie - the betta- he was adding a snail to the fish bowl. The pet store for us is quite an adventure. On this trip, along with getting a snail, the boys and I held the snakes. They did great with them. Gene however... that's another post.Do you know those moments of life that seem to reach beyond the realm of current reality; or maybe they reach into a reality is in fact more real than what seems to be. Either way, these "this is what it's all about", transcendent moments come as revelations of the soul - in laughter and in tears. These moments cannot be planned, they just happen. A fleeting moment when things make sense. Do you know these moments?
It was what happened a week ago, in the choosing of the snail that ushered in a transcendent moment today. I was inquiring of the pet store staff about how to care for the snail. I wanted to know what the snail eats. What I said was "Is there any specific way we should eat him?" As soon as it came from my mouth, laughter broke out - the girl very wittingly replied, "I guess we have a seafood lover". We thought Sam would not stop laughing! Sam is still laughing about it. At any random moment he recalls the moment and breaks out laughing...and it's not long before we are all laughing.
This week I am impatient. I want to fast forward. I want God to say "GO!" and things just to take off in a visible way. I want to know - what does it look like when some of these things that we sense God is developing come into view. I am excited to see God's plans unfold. I'm anxious... and it's distracting. I'm trying to be calm and patient...
Tonight, I was sitting on the couch just before Sam's bedtime. He was playing the guitar and asking me to sing - whatever comes to mind. I began to sing about his inability to hold back a smile. (Deep inside, I must admit, I just wanted to go back to reading my books and not have to think.) Then it happens...Sam begins to laugh hysterically and then bursts into song "Snails...Snails...Is there any way we should EAT them!...." This song, Sam's laughter, my own laughter, my appreciation for Sam's sense of humor - a fabulous show of God's pleasure- seemed to just suck me into a moment that was more real than the moment before it. I felt the presence of God in the moment. I could see Sam being formed into who he was created to be. I was given the ability all of a sudden to appreciate, to treasure the moment. A moment full of life as it should be.
Who knew a snail could be such a wonderful pet?
5 comments:
Maybe the reason why God doesn't always let us into his plan is because we get ahead of ourselves and forget to live, learn and enjoy the moment.
this lesson takes some of us longer to learn than others...
good word Jenn...thanks!
now i'm wondering....is it your preference to remove the hepatho-pancreas? or not?
quite a lot of prep for one little snail...Sheldon is probably safe in his tank - for a little while anyway.
you should know that this blog post was read to the end student ministries high school students last night as part of their worship service. my concern is that the same people who support dolphin free tuna might be on your tail...
not to put a damper on all the wonderful moments that were provided by Sheldon the Snail...but today theReynoldsFam mourns the loss of a loyal pet, a good friend. We are sad this day but would not trade the precious time we had with this wonderful little creature - Sheldon.
(Spencer accused me of starving him to death -recalling that I did not know how to feed him ... fortunately I had not disposed of Sheldon yet and he couldn't accuse me of eating him.)
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