Lady (my red lab) and I were rounding the corner and coming home from a great morning walk when I spotted an inch worm on the sidewalk. Now, many would have either just walked by it or maybe never have noticed it, but it caught my eye and I stood there watching as that little caterpillar made its way across the pavement. It had been years since I had seen one. Lady, I am sure could not understand the interruption but she quietly went about her sniffing, while I stood quietly and enjoyed the distraction.
An inch worm has feet at the front and back of its body but none in the middle so when an inch worm moves, the front legs move forward while the back legs wait for clearance. Then the back legs intuitively catch up touching the front legs making an arch and creating a hump. And inch by inch the process continues. No big leaps, no fast scoots, just slow and steady. The small caterpillar moves slowly and deliberately, heading straight on the path of its' goal, not being sidetracked by the risk factor or fear of getting stomped on, or thinking they are too little or too weak to accomplish the feat of its' destination. Even though they have bad eyesight, inch worms are intuitive to vibrations, especially of the wasps and stink bugs who are their greatest predators, and their defense is to be still when they feel danger lurks.
As I stood watching and amazed once again by one of God's creations, I though about Jan's and my little HOW group (Hearts of Women for Widows). Many times their lives are filled with unexpected responsibilities and tackling life's ups and downs and so many times weighed down to the point of hardly being able to focus on anything. Surely many of you can relate, I can for sure, but it occurred to me that sometimes we maybe need to take a lesson out of that little inch worm's survival box. Slow down, put the fears at bay, disregard the ominous clouds that may be looming, and forge ahead in life inch by inch. It is when we begin thinking about all of the things that need to be done, and the overwhelming journey ahead that we get anxious and allow fear to impose upon our joy. It is kind of like spending all our energy focusing on the circling wasps, or the stink bug that is lying in wait (and I bet you can confirm that you do know a few stink bugs). A lesson from the inch worm: go about your business, take a inch by inch stride at a time, with front feet advancing and backup pushing for a hump of determination, tenacity and faith completed with every stride. And if danger seems to be lurking, be still... and ride out the fear with God as your guard.
I don't know what is on your plate right now, maybe for now it is a clean one, but we all have to get across a hard path of life at some point, and sometimes instead of looking at the other side and being overcome with a task that seems too overwhelming to even begin, we can tackle it as an inch worm does; one inch at a time, having a deep and honest faith that we can get through whatever is before us and successfully complete our goal. (as a note here...we have to know what our goal is before we can achieve it...and what God's goal is for us...goals come in all sizes) It will take some time, a lot of effort and can do attitude but with God all things are possible. He will give us strength, guidance, wisdom and the will to be victorious over any situation that is before us. When we include Christ on our travels, and we trust him to guide our way, and we accept the strength that he has offered, it is then that we can and will move towards the goal that he has ordained.
That little inch worm begins with his front feet moving forward.. Ohhh but the middle cannot move on its own, it needs some backup. As do we, and that backup is Christ! For he is the one who can fill our humps with encouragement, hope, peace, and the stamina to stay connected and maintain a steady gait.
Next time things seem to be getting out of hand and you begin to carry an overwhelming, heavy sense of crazy out of control responsibilities and life issues be they health, finances, relationships, anxiousness, fear etc. ....just think about the inch worm and turn your eyes towards the only one who can truly calm your spirit, comfort your heart, and squelch your fears. If he can figure out and create the intricacies of an inch worm, then he surely can work through us.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking and and complete not lacking anything.
Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!
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