The Last Resort

The Last Resort

Our family lived on a rugged Australian sheep property in the picturesque southern Highlands of our state. Our country cottage overlooked a sun kissed lake whose waters sparkled of thousands of diamonds and mirrored a reflection of the overhead skies. The lake attracted a large variety of birds, soaring above the waters, coming in to gracefully land and feeding endlessly in it’s expanse. It’s depths held an array of an assortment of water life from silver-scaled fish to the shimmering dragon flies hovering over it’s glistening surface. 

Living happily in the lake was the Australian Eastern Long Necked Turtle. These cute turtles, whose dark, burnished shells grow to about 25 centimeters in length, moved calmly in the lake’s waters, feeding slowly, yet deliberately as they swim. On radiant, sunny days, the turtle’s beady eyes could be seen bobbing slightly above the surface, webbed feet splayed out as the turtles would float in the warmth of the surface waters, basking in the rays of the sun.

All around the scraggy edges of the lake were fenced paddocks. The wired fence lines with rough, hand cut, wooden posts, would run the length of the paddock and down into the lake itself, disappearing under it’s surface. In a  severe drought, as the level of the lake would drop, the fence line would continue to hold the sheep and cattle in their designated areas. There is nothing a turtle enjoys more than a stock fence wire strung just above the surface of the water. It afforded an opportunity for the ultimate sun baking experience as the turtles would awkwardly pull themselves up onto the fence line, balancing  on their  hardened shells precariously and remaining very still to absorb the warmth of the sun. The wire was a double twisted strand studded with sharp barbs. The turtles would have to clamber on cautiously between the barbs to avoid being hooked onto the fence.

Our daughters grew up around the delightful lake, observing it’s diverse animal life and canoeing in exploration across it’s brackish waters. One warm, summers day our girls discovered a turtle on the wire of the fence line. However, the turtle was not balancing on it’s creamy yellow bottom shell but was hanging rather perilously by one webbed claw above the inviting waters below. The turtle had attempted everything to free itself. It had pulled and tugged at it’s claw only to find itself securely held in place. No amount of swinging it’s impenetrable shell could maneuver it’s foot from that barb. Every dauntless attempt to freedom was futile. The turtle was stranded upside down, dangling by it’s claw in an impossible situation. My girls attempted in vain to extract the turtle from the barb but the turtle fought courageously against any help. In desperation our daughters paddled the swift canoe vigorously back to it’s landing place and sought the help of their father. He quickly jumped into the canoe, island style, standing in it’s middle and paddling strenuously on a rescue mission to the helpless turtle. He was able to reach down and deftly unhook the turtle’s now dried and shriveled claw off the barb and release it back into the murky waters. 

I stopped to think about how many times I have been like that turtle stuck in an impossible situation with apparently no solution . I struggle valiantly on, going over and over the problem in my mind, trying to solve the dilemma, only to finally stop and say “I guess I can only pray.” Why is prayer often the last resort? Why don’t I always pray first? Why isn’t it instantly in my mind to seek the help of the Divine problem solver? Why do I dangle helplessly over the waters of life unable to extract myself out of something when all along God wants to come and rescue me, if only I would ask. Why do we as Christians hang our heads in consternation, shaking them at a loss as we tell one another that all we can do is pray? 

Phil 4:6, 7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing