I am a turtle!
One of the things you may not know about me is that I love turtles. Turtles! Terrapins! Whatever the correct nomenclature…I love them. As a child, I had miniature turtles as pets.
Later I began to collect turtles in all forms: jewelry, hats, clocks, foot stools. And yes, I even have a turtle hand puppet. In my younger years, I showed my commitment to turtles by joining the International Association of Turtles. Are you a turtle?
Funny thing happened when my husband and I moved into our new home. People started giving us live turtles. The Hamilton turtles live in our fenced backyard and spend every spring-summer season with us. All of them are different in size, age, color, and yes, personality. They are so funny to watch.
But guess what I discovered? They watch us, too! From my kitchen window, I can see them in the yard, staring up toward the house waiting for the light to come on. When I go to the lower lanai, I see Big Mama (the oldest) positioned, so I can see her when I turn on the fountain. They love the sound of the water, another indication that the Hamilton’s are awake and moving.
WIFM (What’s in it for me?)
So why do my turtles watch us so intently? They know that when I see them, I will quickly respond with lettuce, tomatoes, and even strawberries (which they love). If we’re inside, they will even come to the screen door, as if to say, “Hey, it’s feeding time.” I love our nutty little turtles and want to reward them for their diligence, and their perseverance in watching me.
Why am I sharing my turtle story with you? In my quiet time, I meditated on this question, “Do I seek God with the same diligence as my turtles seek me? Am I watchful, early in the morning and throughout the day, to see if I’m best positioned to be seen by Jesus? Do I create opportunities in my busy day to rest in Him?” This includes moments of silence and solitude.
In all fairness, turtles don’t operate with the distractions of the world like we do. They are always “present in the moment”—that moment that will result in a special treat for the day. You see, the turtles are not dependent on me for food. They eat what is available to them in their natural environment. However, they have found in my banquet of lettuce and strawberries something “worth seeking”.
So, it is with our time with Jesus. It is something so special that it would be a tragedy to miss it. While it is important to include spiritual disciplines in our daily routine, there is nothing to compare with experiencing personal time with Him. He offers Himself to feast upon.
We Seek the Lord
God’s presence and provision is fully realized in Jesus, “in whom we live, breathe, and have our meaning.” (Acts 17:28)
We may attempt to meet our desires through pursuit of unhealthy BEEPS.[1] However, lasting satisfaction cannot (and will not) be attained by pursuing them. Only our continual relationship with the Lord can satisfy (Philippians 3:7-8).
Our self-directed pursuits may offer us temporary quenching of our needs, but God has placed “eternity in our hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Nothing else will satisfy. It is God alone, whom we must seek, relentlessly. Diligently watching for His appearance. Eagerly anticipating His presence.
The writer of Psalm 42:1 describes his longing for the Lord this way. As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, So my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God. (Amplified)[2]
St. Augustine, renowned theologian, prolific writer and preacher, had this to say about seeking God. “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” This quote summarizes his core belief that humanity’s inherent desire for happiness and fulfillment can only be truly satisfied by God.
“We’ll be back!”
In late September, the Hamilton turtles will begin to prepare for their winter hibernation. They will burrow into the ground and bid us a “fair thee well”. No need for lettuce, tomatoes, or strawberries, until next year.
However, as followers of Christ, we have the unique pleasure of practicing the presence of Jesus every moment of each day. With the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can engage in conversations throughout the day and during our daily rhythm (John 14:23).
God is always there, waiting for us to look up and “see Him”. And when we do, the Lord will reward us with everything we need for our journey: joy, peace, hope, love, and even an occasional strawberry. 🙂
[1] According to therapist Robert Khouri, BEEPS is an acronym that describes what our attachment system in the brain might attach to instead of healthy, joyful relationships, especially in the context of trauma and addiction. BEEPS stands for: Behaviors, Events, Experiences, People, Substances. BEEPS substitutes for secure attachment that individuals might turn to when they’ve experienced relational trauma or disruption in their early lives.
[2] The Hebrew word translated “soul” in this psalm and elsewhere in the book of Psalms is nephesh. This word usually refers to a person’s “life” or “self”.