Just Keep Moving

Pulling into the driveway of my Godparents’ home, I saw something that I recognized but hoped to God was an illusion of the eye.  An object with the thickness of a rope but the eeriness of something far more alarming that appeared to be winding toward their home.  Yes, it was a snake. But not one I’d come to expect to see although I generally don’t expect to see them at all.  I’ve grown used, and have no objections to, the fact that they stay to themselves and I stay to myself.  I recognize I’ve probably infringed upon their space once or twice and have even killed some tiny relatives, but this thing sitting in the driveway was to me monstrous.  I paused and revved my engine but it didn’t move.  I moved up a little, revved again and still nothing.  I tried to think back to the nature shows I’ve watched over the years for any episodes about snakes.  Did they have the ability to play dead? 

Geez, I really wished I had paid attention.  As I got closer to it, I realized the mouth was open and it was flipped with its belly upright.  It had apparently been crushed and I assumed by the wheel of my Godfather’s truck.

I parked my bike near it’s corpse and proceeded to walk by it.  I drew in closer to check out all the details of this snake that otherwise I would only read about or see on television.  I hoped again to God that it was not faking.  It would not have been pretty if this thing jumped up at me.  Once in the house I asked my Godmother if she knew there was a snake in her driveway and then showed her the pictures.  She too was glad it was dead. 

I returned the next day and found that his truck was not in the driveway but neither was the dead snake.  When he arrived home later I asked him what happened to the snake and yet he had no clue what I was even talking about. I told him all that happened the day before and that I couldn’t believe he didn’t know there was a snake under his truck, about 4 or 5 feet long and possibly poisonous making its way in the direction of his home’s door.  He shrugged and moved onto another subject.  I was dumbfounded.  You know, I can be a bit dramatic so I allowed my entire life to flash before my eyes.  I know…ridiculous. But what can I say? I’m a wannabe drama major in the production of me.  What if he was home when I arrived on my motorcycle and the snake was still alive?  What if it attacked me when I dismounted?  What if it made it to the door of the home and was sitting there waiting for my Godfather to leave? What if, what if. Oh boy, it’s the what ifs that will take you out if you allow them to.

Then I began to think on Genesis 3:15 where the Lord said to the serpent,

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.”

There the snake rested, on the ground with its head crushed and all I cared about was a possible strike to my heel.

I changed my focus to this being a problem that had been resolved long before I even realized the problem existed.  I am constantly reminded of the ripple effects of our actions and how our inaction can delay the ripples that are necessary in our lives and the lives of others.  When we fail to do what we’re called to do, we can delay the solutions we seek to the problems we know about and those we have yet to encounter.  Our inaction can hinder those around us and cause heartache to those we care about and yet we want to believe no one matters. 

Had my Godfather decided he didn’t feel like going out to take care of the tasks he had on his list that day, who knows what the results would have been.  I know some may sum this up to luck or happenstance but I like believing life is a bit more purposed than that.  It is important to me to rely on the belief that my actions have meaning.  It is important to me to believe that I am here to cause change.  It is important to me to know when I keep moving, that I am making things possible not just for myself but for others as well.  

Besides, even Dory knew the importance of just keep swimming.

Just keep pushing, keep growing, keep moving. You’d be surprised where God will take you when you willing go along for the ride.

Love, Sharonda