Rooster’s Wake-Up Call

Summer Solstice arrived last week, and as a Floridian, it felt a bit anti-climactic since the brutal heat and humidity have been rising for weeks. It is somewhat bitter-sweet, as I love Daylight Savings Time. There is no denying it, Summer Solstice is a reminder that the peak has arrived, and it is all downhill from here. (Our daylight will gradually shorten as we move towards the next season)

After my morning routine, I headed for a walk. The path was alive with the usual roaming cats, turtles, territorial ravens, Sandhill cranes, ducks, even the occasional Wood stork. But my favorite encounter is the neighborhood rooster. That robust “cock a doodle do…” is an undeniable, tried and true “wake up call”.

This rooster has captured my attention, with his urgent, loud, impassioned crow. He takes his job seriously and puts everything he has into it. And then I wonder, do I ever throw myself into my God-given abilities like that rooster? Do I even recognize my strengths and how to best use them? The truth is, I spend a great deal of time, watching and waiting, certain that one day I will figure it all out and actually contribute to something or someone in a meaningful way.

Donald Miller in his book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, surmises that most of us live pretty “boring” lives and don’t retain many memories that inspire or captivate others. He concludes that if that is the case, it is time to decide to live a better story and take purposeful action steps to achieve the goal. That premise caught my attention, because honestly, I just thought I didn’t have many interesting memories because I am older now and I haven’t spent enough time working on “brain games”.

I do believe that Miller is onto something. God intentionally equipped us and has purposefully mapped out our unique lives, but we determine how we move through our day to day. We are invited to embrace or resist God’s good path for us, and if we resist we carve out our own limited version. After several royally failed attempts at carving out my own “very limited” version of a path, I have concluded that if I want to live life to the fullest, I must shed the stuff that I allow to hinder my progress.

You could say that I have had my own “Wake Up Call”. Over the course of the past 18 months, I received a very serious medical diagnosis with a rigorous treatment protocol. I continue to undergo treatment and close observation, while on the path to wellness. Subsequently my job ended, I closed the chapter on 3 significant relationships and changed my place of residence. So many
“good-byes” and many unknowns ahead.

What I do know is that this is my opportunity to start anew with new perspective and priority. I have many people to thank for helping to carry my burdens, and at times “me”. You know who you are and I am both grateful and humbled.

I am learning new ways to build strength, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I like familiarity and comfort, but this new season is requiring me to step out of my comfort zone. One gift I have received, is a deeper appreciation for what I refer to as “Involuntary Solitude”.

I see God as more generous and gracious than ever before, in the midst of life events that still don’t make sense and at times on face value, appear meaningless or even hurtful.

God truly does, in all things work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose ( Romans 8:28 paraphrase). As this Summer Solstice reminds us of the subtle changes ahead, I look forward to increasing in strength and new purpose. Perhaps it is more of a refinement of the original God-given Purpose that I previously lost in the weeds of life. I hope to have the same exuberant passion and expression that my neighborhood rooster has. He makes me smile every day, and I believe God smiles too.