Tuesday With Teri

          Ever wonder what it would be like if we could see thought bubbles above people’s heads, like in the cartoon strips?  WELL…IF you could read thought bubbles above our heads, here is what you would have seen this last Sunday afternoon.

Me: Hmmmm, I have the afternoon to myself, the sun is shining, the wind is calm…I think I’ll go kayaking!

Hughie(my porky little Yorkshire terrier):  She is packing up stuff in the car, I don’t like the look of this, I’m getting left again…

Me: I’m gonna bring Hughie today…he did okay last time we went, except for when he jumped in the river trying to get to a turtle on a log, but that’s what life vests are for right?

Hughie: goody goody goody, she’s got my leash!  I’m going on a ride!

Me: guess what Hughie, we’re going kayaking today!

Hughie: not sure what she is saying, but she’s using the happy tone so it must be good!

(upon arrival at the boat dock)

Hughie:NOOOOOOOOOOO not the kayak!  Is this lady nuts?!  What does she think I am, a water loving Labrador?

Me:  Wow, you’ve put on a few pounds since our last kayak adventure…let me adjust the doggie life vest for you

Hughie:  I’d ask if this life vest makes me look fat, but I think the answer is obvious

(once safely in kayak and paddling underway)

Me: see Hughie, isn’t this fun?

Hughie: Pant, pant, pant,pant….I think I’m dying!  It’s hot, the big boats are going to run over us, “water water everywhere and not a drop to drink”…

Me: Hughie, quit being so pitiful, here is a cup of water…ooooh, sorry about that,  didn’t mean to hit you in the head with the paddle…of course that would not happen IF you would stay at your end of the kayak

Hughie: Land, I see land!  If only she’d get a little closer…I think I can jump for it and make my escape

Me: Hughie, don’t lean so far out of the boat…you’re going to fall in!  Hey look, Geese…!

Hughie:  Drats, foiled again…wait, is she seriously paddling us into that flock of floating birds?!

Me: Look at all those geese Hughie, aren’t they amazing

Hughie: I’m gonna die!  Those birds are HUGE and we’re headed right for them…!

Me: oh, Hughie, don’t worry, you don’t look anything like Goose food…see they all just flew away

Hughie: pant pant pantpant, that was a close one!  Hey, I think I see  land again…

Me: Hughie, I know what you’re thinking…that is NOT land, it is a bunch of floating river plants…get off the edge of the boat.

Hughie: drat and double drat

Me: well we should head back, seriously, this would be sooooo much easier if you would get off my lap while I paddled…

Hughie: Finally, she is turning us back to the dock…I can smell land already..

Me: Hughie, get back, your leaning too far over the edge…Hughie, you might fall, Hughie, we’re almost home,   (SPLASH) Hughie?

Hughie: (after being pulled up from the river by the handle of his doggie life vest, with river palnts dangling from his laid back ears and his little fur coat soaking wet)  I am SO NOT A FAN of the river!  This is very undignified…

            Later, safely on land and in the comfort of  dry clothes, I thought about the day…..

          I can only imagine what “thought bubbles” would be visible if one could see the interaction between God and me on the life adventure He has put me on.  

          I wonder how often I tend to get in God’s way.  How often do I look for ways to escape His plans for my journey?  Do I allow fear to rule when I think He is taking me a direction I don’t understand or agree with? Do I lean too far out of His will?  How often does my God have to reach down and pluck me from the chaos of my own choices, burdensome remnants from life dangling from me like river plants off Hughie. 

Time to adjust our “Life Vests”,( our relationship with God through His son Jesus Christ), and TRUST God in all things!