My Fears: Ferocious Beasts and Stranger Danger

I had officially been reassigned…
There was one paper route in our southwest Iowan town. Our family was lucky enough to have the opportunity to deliver the Wednesday only free newspaper. Mom knew every house in our small town, and they were ALL to receive the newspaper each week. Mom would draw a map of each street detailed with every house and then carve out delivery routes. Each Wednesday after the newspapers came to our home, Mom would work to bundle them with the exact number in each bundle we each needed for our group of streets. There were two extraordinary things about the paper route delivery day. First, Mom ALWAYS made a pot of chili to warm us after we returned from our routes. Second, the three dollars earned for my efforts. Most of the money I earned went toward something I was saving for. The few dollars earned each week were always well spent ahead of time. I would map out on the calendar how many weeks it would take for me to collect what I was saving for. Nevertheless, I would ALWAYS spend 25 cents at the DX Gas Station on a treat on my way home! It was typically the only treat I had each week and I would savor every bite.
Occasionally my sisters would return from school and there would be a new map drawn up with a change of assignments. However, my route never seemed to change. I had a few streets that were long with only a few homes. I didn’t mind the route and no one else wanted it… Until one day…
I arrived home and glanced at the new map Mom drawn out. I immediately pitched a fit of retaliation. I had always had the southwest corner of town; however, on this day, I had officially been reassigned to the northwest sector. My protests were simply ignored and I was dropped off at the curb on the furthermost street in our town where I was to begin my route. I always made it a personal goal to run between each home and finish my route as quickly as possible. I resolved to do the same with my new route and began delivering newspapers.  
One particular house was a bit dingey. I ran extra fast and as I dropped the paper at the front door and turned to run down the sidewalk to the next house, I was met by a ferocious beast of a dog with remarkably long legs, an extraordinary amount of hairy fur, and teeth like I imagined that of a huge shark!. I was terrified! I had been bitten before on my route and feared this day would end with my name and picture on next week’s herald with the headline “ Girl Destroyed by Giant Dog-Like Creature”. I screamed in terror and ran as fast as I could, skipping the next several houses as the dog chased me. I turned the corner and finished the next street with an eerie feeling that someone was following me. I collected a thread of courage to turn and look to see who it was and confront the stranger who was completely creeping me out. It was a man-child. He looked like a man but acted like a child. He carried a small notebook. Not much larger than his man-sized hands. He seemed friendly, but I had been warned of stranger-danger in my childhood just like any other child in any other town. However, I was under the impression our town didn’t have any strangers. Everyone seemed to know absolutely everyone…
He asked me to write my name down in his notebook. I told him I couldn’t because I was busy delivering my papers. I began to run to the next house and he ran after me requesting my name again. I told him I wasn’t allowed to put my name in notebooks and I ran to the next house. He ran after me relentless with his request. I was now running late with my route and really craving the warmth and safety of chili and cornbread and being tucked securely at home. With immediate regret, I wrote my first name in his notebook and handed it back to him. He refused to take it. He said I needed to write down my phone number too. In a moment of panic yet wanting desperately some resolution, I wrote down my friend’s phone number, handed back the notebook, and sprinted my way throughout the rest of my route and all of the way home. My typical DX treat was delayed until I regrouped and purged my horrific experiences with my mother.  
That evening she got exactly three calls about people not receiving their newspaper. All of them from my route. I returned with my mom to the home of the ferocious beast where I warned Mom to be careful. She agreed to stand watch as I delivered the skipped papers and sprinted back to the safety of the car in between. The terrifying -part monkey, part dog, part shark creature was nowhere to be found…  
Back at home with my DX treat in hand, I recounted my frightful experiences to Debbie, my older sister who had previously delivered that route. I felt great respect for her having walked the literal paths she took with bravery and courage each week. She told me how to navigate the ferocious beast and the name of the boy who has special needs and just wanted to be friendly. She told me as soon as I say hello to him, he would stop following me. She seemed so wise to me as she proved to be correct on all points of concern.  
I felt remotely validated and renewed in my plight the following week. But mostly, I felt safe. There were no more unknowns lurking on the unfamiliar streets. I could progress without fear.

As I reflect on my sister’s calming tone as she explained to me how to navigate the paths she took, I realized it’s a similar plight in following Christ.  
In studying of Him and the paths he took, and learning of Him, I come to know Him. I begin to ascertain that my fears simply originate from thoughts of things I don’t understand and are the absence of faith. And this is exactly where Christ meets me.  
It’s right where His perfect love catches me as my fears seem to paralyze me.   
He comes to me.  
He meets me right where I am in all of my imperfections and mistakes.
He loves me.  
He waits patiently as I try to grapple for the strength to reach up and take His hand, and find a moment of peace in Him, enduring as long as I choose to hold on… 

-JC

Oreo Cream Cookies

¾ cup soft butter
4 oz. softened cream cheese
½  cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
2 XL eggs
1 teaspoon clear vanilla
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups (approx. 18) cut up Oreo Cookie pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream butter, oil  and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Gently stir in Oreo pieces. Scoop out approximately 28  2” balls of dough and flatten slightly. Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14  min. Let cool. Drizzle with Vanilla Icing. Press crushed Oreos onto the top of each cookie.  (I crush 12 Oreos to garnish tops of cookies) Let set. Share!


Vanilla Icing
⅓ cup whole milk
2 ¾ cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon clear vanilla
Dash of salt

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Transfer into freezer strength Ziploc until ready to use.