Bear

Molly and I left early morning to meet movers in Austin as she was again moving from one venue to another. College!  We rounded Highway 71 and ended up in a ton of traffic on Airport blvd. Cars were creeping along and we found ourselves beside a Clampitt Paper Company truck. Ordinarily trucks do not get my full attention, oh, but this one had some character.  Literally. There was a stuffed teddy bear riding on the back of it wearing a faded and weathered UT longhorn t-shirt.  And this bear was not on the bumper, he was securely mounted on the middle of the frame of the huge rear door that is raised and lowered for deliveries.  If only I would have been window to window, you know I would have asked questions, but the image was planted regardless of the story. We decided to cut through to back streets  to gain a little time and sure enough when we had gotten deep into streets of an unknown neighborhood, here came that same truck, barreling through as if he knew the area quite well.  And he passed by us in confidence, as we were stopped a stop sign,  the bear hanging along for the ride.

It was just a teddy bear, but that one bear, I know, must bring a smile to many a passer by, and a moment's pause for reflection.  For amidst the miles, and the deliveries, and the territories covered, that little bear must represent to its driver something or someone very special. And he wanted it displayed for the joy of others to see. It was, for me, a heart catcher and  a tender momentary reminder of childhood, children and sentimental holdings.   

And it also brought to mind the security blankets and lovies that children hold close and are comforted by. I still have a child who loves blankets, and I myself love blankets. I have fortunately lost sight and hold of my childhood comforts, but that is not to say that I have not replaced them with other things. We do that you know.  So what is it that you can grab hold of that comforts you today?  I was thinking about God, and a possible book title came to mind, "When God is Not Enough".  Oh, I know that God is always enough in theory and in belief, but sometimes I feel like I need a little something tangible to hang tight to, when the going gets tough, and the pain is too deep and the clouds of fear and dismay are hovering. You know, those times when you just want to hunker down with your thoughts, and find a safe place to light in the comforts of something tangible that feels secure, at least for a little while.  

God is our ultimate security.  Though we cannot see him or audibly hear him, he is present always. It is my opinion that when we hunker down and try to find solace and security in things we consciously avoid interaction with people,  at least that is the way I often times handle things. But it occurred to me that people are the very vessels that God chooses to uses to activate His comfort, encouragement, provide a listening ear, sharpen our skills, launch our gifts,  help us to seek wisdom, and get us back on our feet. It is spoken and unspoken communication of the hearts when we allow someone into our world.  I am most secure in the presence of friends and family who I know love God, seek God and portray the reflection of God through their actions and words.  That is a tangible blanket, one of friendship and fellowship that God has given me to wrap up in when I need a little help and needed security. 

May we be reminded, just as that little bear was a reminder to me of something special that travels every mile with its driver,  that we carry with us the very presence of God himself. He is visible to us through friends, audible to us through followers who speak his spoken word and tangible to us through the blanket of His love that we know through those who he puts on our path. God is with us always, and with our children and their children too. May they one day trade in their earthly blankets of security and depend on God to wrap them up in his.     

Proverbs 14:26
Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.

Dear Lord, may you be securely connected to my framework,  stay close to me all the days so my life, and wrap me up in love and friendship of those whom you choose, and may I too be the very blanket of security that someone else may need as well.   Amen