4.3
June 18, 2020

Driving Down the Road can be a Form of Prayer.

Driving down the road on my way to work, I chose to bless those I saw on the road:

The maintenance driver of the truck I passed filled with lawn care equipment.
The driver of the car in front of me whose bumper sticker read “Make America Great Again.”
The woman on a bicycle hugging the edge of this two-lane highway.
The love bug who lost his life as he hit the windshield of my car.
The baby calf suckling on his mama’s teat.

I continued to spread my blessings across this stretch of asphalt when I came across a soft shell turtle making her way across the highway with her neck stretched high above her shell. She must’ve thought it would be nice to meander some place other than the pond.

I slowed down and swerved around her as she reminded me to take it easy; there is no hurry. I pulled over, turned on my hazard lights, got out of my car, and walked toward her.

I looked around and noticed we were the only ones out here in the middle of this road. I approached her, bent down, and kindly asked, “May I please help you across the highway? I do not want you to perish on your journey to the other side.”

I tried to pick her up and move her in the direction which she seemed to be headed, and she lunged out of my hands. I let go and screamed like a girl. Oh, wait, I am a girl.

I tried once again, but she lunged away from me as if to convey, “This is my journey, not yours.” On my third attempt, she managed to turn herself back around to the watery ditch from which she arose. I discovered that touching her was all she needed to be reminded that I meant no harm.

I stood up and noticed a line of cars parked behind me watching and waiting for me to finish my prayer. The guy in front of the line gave me a thumbs up and yelled out of his car window, “Amen, sister!”

~

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