Not all of God’s children are gathered to hear the pastor preaching…

Sometimes “time” as a resource feels fleeting. And sometimes…
It feels like a test–
Of how well I use it, and what I might have to “show” for it at any future crossroads. 

Our third, and final, Airbnb in the Vegas area became my temporary home the day after the advertisement was posted. We toured the home and instantly asked to sign a contract to move in the next day.  Our landlady mentioned moving out in a hurry, potentially leaving behind some of her things, including the tortoises in the courtyard…

Wait…
The what?

I had unknowingly walked right past their home on my way to the front door. 
She mentioned that she or her kids would come take care of them until she could move them. 
I would come to learn that desert tortoises burrow to create shelter. There were three of them. They had lived in their burrow since they were 4” in diameter. They were now close to 16”. 

We moved into our new rental the next day. The three tortoises seemed to mind their own business–
But I became increasingly curious about them. 
I messaged the landlord and asked her if I could feed and water them for her. She was a busy lady and I struggled to meaningfully fill my abundance of extra time.

So it was settled-
I was now the designated household tortoise caretaker.

It was fun to FaceTime the grandkids showing them the turtles as they slowly moved around their enclosure. 
I’d research what I could complement their pellet food with…
One early afternoon, on a day with very little to do, I garnished the plate of moistened pellets with raspberries and then I waited…
And waited…
And waited. 

After what felt like an excessive amount of wasted time waiting, I went back inside and finished a few tasks I had begun pre-raspberry obsession…

A few hours later, I returned to turtle watching delighted to see one lying on the plate of food-
Soaking in all of the raspberry and rabbit pellet glory. 

I was momentarily delighted, and then remembered the saying- 
“God can’t steer a parked car.”

I had felt a bit parked lately in my waiting to be asked to help.
I was grateful for the circumstances around my daughter-in-law’s post-surgery rebound and that she did not require nearly the amount of help that any of us were imagining—
But I knew I needed to do more in my days to be productive. Specifically, I felt stalled in my discipleship and working to spread God’s light and love. 

I vowed to spend less time garnishing the tortoises’ meals with raspberries and then waiting….
And more time engaged in anything else God could use me for, as His hands, to accomplish any portion of His work. 

The ideas and thoughts that followed were simple, seemingly non-consequential work.
I would text a friend, read scripture-based stories and talks, or take a walk with a goal to spread smiles and light to anyone on the neighborhood walking path. I felt a bit invisible in this work, yet committed to staying with the idea that any effort in discipleship matters.

On a warm summer Vegas day, I took a wrong turn trying to get home from the pickleball courts where I spent most mornings. A U-turn put me in a prime position to roll through a McDonald’s drive-through for a cold filtered crisp Diet Coke. (IYKYK)
There was no line. I counted myself pretty lucky and quickly made it to the speaker to place my order. Once I got to the first window, I gave the nice lady my credit card. We had a short conversation. There was no one behind me and no one in front of me. We chatted ever so briefly, choosing connection…
She paused, looked into my eyes as she held my credit card to return it to me, and said “Thank you for chatting with me.” 

It was simple. 
Seemingly inconsequential. 

But there was an opportunity to connect mother to mother, grandma to grandma, daughter of God to daughter of God…. And it mattered.

Did my resolve to spread God’s light put me in the McDonald’s drive-through at that exact moment in time?
I don’t truly know…
I would likely guess not…
But what I did there seemed to matter…

So much of God’s work is between Him and His children. We rarely see the impact we make through the light we attempt to share. 
But I can say-
The simple efforts feel “right”. 

I’m not at a place in my life where I stand with a microphone on a platform in my discipleship. 
Yet in the exact place I was—
God was telling me- that not all of his children are gathered to hear the pastor preaching…
Some need to feel His light and love-
One on one-
And that simple work is what I felt called to do with my time…

-JC

Browned Butter Caramel Krispy Treats

6 Tablespoons butter, browned (Melt on medium heat until butter melts, then foams)
6 oz. caramels
10 ½ cups (16 oz.) mini marshmallows
½ teaspoon salt
7 oz. marshmallow creme
10 cups Rice Krispies 
2 cups (additional) mini marshmallows

Immediately pull the browned butter from saucepan and stir in the 6 oz. of caramels to melt the caramels. Microwave in ten second intervals as needed. Heat mini marshmallows and salt in the microwave for 1 minute.  Stir in marshmallow creme and browned butter/caramel mixture. Stir until smooth. Add krispy cereal and additional mini marshmallows.  Fold over thoroughly until combined. Spoon into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray. Use your hands to gently flatten and even out treats.
Let set. Share!