Invisible Goliaths

By this age, I had thought “it” would be easier… but I had been struggling. 
I felt like I couldn’t even utter the words to the hymn, “I’ll go where you want me to go…”
I was worried that the “where” was too high of a mountain to climb. 
However, I’d been “there” before… at the bottom of the mountain staring straight up the nearly unseen path to begin my climb. 
I felt tired… yet my memory of each aided climb, the views along the way, and the strength gained – forced my resolve to try. 

It was a warm and sunny January day in Arizona. People were out and about no doubt refreshed with nice weather just a few weeks after the holiday season. 

My day had evolved to be unexpectedly busy. I finally found a window of time to take a walk late in the afternoon. I set out with resolve to talk things over with God and recommit to trying a little harder to let Him prevail and guide my life. 

I began my walk along the irrigation canal with a short conversation with God. “I want to try to do better and walk with greater faith…”

I’m not sure I really meant that I was all in for going and doing… but my intent was (weakly) there. 

I uttered the words and without taking time to listen for Him… I connected my new Apple Watch to my new headphones and blasted country music hoping my pace would follow the uptake in beat. 

At one point I had a thought to look over to my right. I saw a boy playing near the canal. He appeared to be about 10 years old and I thought nothing more of it. I continued on my quick pace and a few seconds later had the distinct impression to turn and walk over towards the boy. I noticed there was some splashing by the canal and quickly realized he had just helped his friend up onto the bank. I walked over towards the boys and asked them if they were OK. They indicated they were fine. I inserted my headphone without another thought as I turned back toward my walk. 

Yet, something didn’t seem quite right. I turned back and asked the boys if there was any trouble and the one began to sob. He told me that his brand new remote control car had accidentally gone off the edge of the ditch road (on the opposite side that I was walking) and had plummeted into the water. He had tried to reach for it and slipped a little bit, getting his shoes and clothes a little wet. 

I looked around. I even walked about 50 feet down the ditch toward a truck hoping that there was someone who could better assist these boys with their plight. 

On what was usually a fairly busy walking path- no one else seemed to be around. 

I was on the opposite side of the irrigation canal- about 20 feet away from the boys and their problem. I asked the one boy who said he lived nearby if he could go get a grown-up to help him. He said his mom was home but could not help. I then asked him if he could go get a garden rake. Perhaps then they could fish out the car from the irrigation canal. He returned with a golf club… innovative… but clearly not long enough. He asked me if I thought a rake would be better. I confirmed it would be. But I was unsure that he would be able to reach it given his slight size.  

The other boy remained on the edge of the canal sobbing about the distressing situation and the fate of his likely new Christmas gift. I tried to console him from the opposite side of the ditch, feeling less than adequately helpful.

I assessed that approximately 3/4 of a mile down the ditch there was an area that I could cross the ditch. Time seemed to be of an essence… and the boy would soon return with a rake and I was hopeful that they would be able to retrieve the car and be on their way. The boy returned with the rake. He was able to touch the car but did not have enough strength to pull it out of the water. He then suggested he could get his fishing pole…

I didn’t see that as a timely solution. 

I again assessed the area hoping that there would be someone more suitable to assist these boys. Literally as if never before – there was no one else on the trail. 

I took off my watch and my headphones unsure of how wet I would get…
I told the boys “I’m a grown-up so it’s OK- but you should never do this…“

I climbed into the irrigation canal. I slipped a little bit on the slimy surface as I entered the chilly January water. I was wet up to my shoulders, waded across in fairly deep very cold water, yet easily retrieved the remote control car and set it up on the edge of the ditch next to the boy who had lost it. The water was already making my legs numb. I knew I needed help getting out. The sides were pitched and slimy with mud. 

I told the boys they were going to have to help me out. They eagerly agreed. I told the one to hand me the end of the rake and the other one to help steady his friend as my weight would likely pull the one in. As if rehearsed, the boys pulled me out on the first try. I was grateful, very cold, and very wet. 

I looked across the ditch. 20 feet away was my own Christmas present- a watch and headphones. And yet there was no way for me to get them short of walking the 3/4 of a mile down to cross the irrigation canal 3/4 of a mile back up to retrieve my belongings and then again retrace my steps back towards home. There was no alternative. I figured once I got to my watch I would call my husband and have him come get me in a nearby neighborhood. 

Unfortunately, when I got back to my watch the battery was dead and I was forced to walk soaking wet and freezing cold the 2 1/2 miles back home. 

As I reflected on this experience later in the evening, I was reminded of something I had heard a few years prior. 

“…God only has imperfect people to deal with. It must be very frustrating for him but he does it anyway….”

Here I had verbally committed to try and let God prevail in my life. I wanted to be included in Christ’s discipleship and work towards emulating him. But fifteen minutes later, when the call came to help, I looked around hoping someone else could do it.

On that particular day, God needed me to show Him that I was willing to do whatever was asked of me. Not just the things I was confident with, not just the things I was comfortable with…

He needed me to know that literally anything He asked of me- was all a part of His work. 

I’ve since wondered if either of those boys prayed for help. 

If so- there I was- the only person available to be an instrument in God’s hands- trying to get out of the task…

That description is exactly not how I want to report my efforts to God. 

So what gets in the way?

I call them “Invisible Goliaths”. 
They are huge, threatening, and largely unseen by anyone else….
They cause doubt, fear, and paralyzing anxiety. 
They leave us depleted, searching, disconnected and exhausted.
They compromise our well-being, happiness, commitment to faith and our ability to show up in our own lives the ways we wish we could.
(So much more on these thoughts to come…)

On that January day – I was grateful for a long enough walk home that I could ponder. The dead watch battery forced silence.  The silence gave way to a heightened awareness of my chill, my thoughts, and my resolve. 

If it’s me God is asking to help another- my job is not to look to delegate it to someone more qualified. My job is to let God qualify me in doing His work.  

So for today-
I’m focusing on the one step in front of me…
And taking it with greater commitment and faith. 

-JC

Pina Colada (Chilled) Sugar Cookies

Make a batch of: Soft Coconut Sugar Cookies

Soft Coconut Sugar Cookies

¾ cup soft butter
⅓  cup vegetable oil
⅓ cup sour cream
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon coconut extract
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups sweetened flaked coconut

Cream butter, oil, sour cream and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and coconut extract; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Stir in flaked coconut.  Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24+ 2” balls of dough. Gently roll. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, form cookie dough balls, flatten slightly and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10+ min. Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle with Coconut Glaze. Let cool completely. Top with chilled Pina Colada Cream. Refrigerate until serving.  Share!

Coconut Glaze

⅓ cup cream of coconut
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon coconut extract
Dash of salt

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until smooth.

Pina Colada Cream

½ cup coconut yogurt
1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 20oz. can crushed pineapple
zest of one lime
3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut
8 oz. thawed Cool Whip

Thoroughly mix pudding mix with yogurt. Stir in pineapple and lime zest. Fold in coconut and Cool Whip. Chill.