“Keep steady my steps according to your
promise.” Psalm 119:133a
One
summer during seminary I directed a 10-week day camp in Jacksonville,
Florida. I had never lived in
Florida so planning weekly field trips for the kids was a challenge. Each week I would research possible
venues and then on Saturday would visit them to confirm that it was something
appropriate and fun for the kids.
This particular Saturday I arrived at a hiking trail on Amelia Island
that looked quite promising.
However, a small unassuming sign stood at the beginning of the trail
which read: “Proceed quietly, so
not to disturb the alligators”.
Curious, I thought, but continued and never saw an alligator. It was a perfect place! So . . . three days later I stood at
the beginning of the trail with 15 children (kindergarten – fifth grade) and
read the sign to them and said, “I was here before and never saw an alligator,
but to be safe, lets walk quietly.”
Forward we began. Two children
in front of me and 13 kids following.
All of the sudden the two in front came to a screeching halt, not making
a sound but pointing furiously. AN
ALLIGATOR!! What was that I read,
“Alligators are not aggressive.”
But this was an alligator with 10 babies all around her. Silently I prayed with much panic,
“Lord, there’s an alligator on my path!!!
What am I supposed to do?!
Outwardly, I said very calmly to the kids, “Be very quite and still, we
will wait for them to move off the path.”
The kids did exactly what I said and sure enough in a couple of minutes
mom and babies moved off the trail into the swamp. We continued our hike and the kids ranked that trip as
number one!! They thought it was
great to see an alligator and babies!
Their parents weren’t so sure and I would have rather not had that
experience. However, I took away a
couple of truths: Shared
experiences generate different avenues of gratitude and when panic hits – pray,
wait, then move. All in all, I am
even grateful for the alligators on my path!
MaryBeth Hammett
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