Reptile-Inspired Ramblings?

For those of you who a) care, or b) desire a lighter read, our Easter pictures are posted here.

For anyone brave enough to follow a run away train of thought:

On Friday, Heather and Royce called with an invitation to visit the Bean Life Science Museum. Always a favorite destination of Lucy's, we accepted. The child was ecstatic. "We're going to see the animals!!" (But then with a raised eyebrow, "Are they real?").

No pictures to testify that we had a great time, but we had a great time. We sat through a live reptile show. Briefly touching a few scales and shells may have been the highlight of Lucy's almost three-year-old life. Little girls might be made of sugar and spice, but it so happens that my little girl also loves snakes. Royce and Heather were kind enough to procure a tiny toy snake for Lucy after the show and it hasn't left her immediate presence since. "I need rubber snake to sleep with me." "I need to take rubber snake to church." (And it's always rubber snake. Thanks for the accuracy, Lucy). I say: whatever. Just no real ones.

Certainly, Lucy didn't get her reptile loving genes from me, but I found the museum show interesting and highly entertaining, too. Unlike Lucy and her rapture for snakes, I was most impressed with the turtles. We saw the smooth shell of a small hawksbill turtle and learned that he can swim up to 18 (? is that right, guys?) mph. Wow! We also saw a live land tortoise whose lumpy shell affords him protection on land vs. swimming speed.

Interesting? Sure. But why bore you with turtle tidbits in a blog entry? 'Cause I've been thinking about those two turtles all weekend! Fascinating: the same species, but built for totally different habitats, totally different lives. Little water turtle can sure swim up a storm, but on land, he's quickly outdistanced by the heavier shelled, faster walking tortoise (who, himself, would sink if he took a dip).

The point of this turtle nonsense? A familiar principle. We all have strengths. We all have weaknesses. We all have distinct roles and missions.

How nice to be in relationships and communities where varied strengths and differing roles are appreciated and admired rather than coveted. How burdensome is the pressure of comparison and competition!

Love these classic Brigham Young words:

"I am weary of the manner in which our women seek to outdo each other in all the foolish fashions of the world."

(Ouch! But it is wearying, isn't it? On a similar note, I remember so heartily nodding my assent to this post, written by a friend and truly insightful writer.)

In light of our tendency toward comparison and competition, how comforting is Paul's body of Christ counsel!? How nice to be reminded that we needn't outdo anyone! How nice to remember that instead of competing, we can, every one of us, contribute to a complete and beautiful whole! What a needed invitation to consider our own strengths. Am I a swimmer or a fast-land-walker? How am I perfectly suited to my own sphere? What different, but complimentary addition can I bring to the Lord's table? I don't have to be "the eye."

Forgive the long thought train!

(Heather and Royce may not wish to invite us to the Bean Museum ever again!)

Baby Sea Turtles by Leia Bell