Breaking from the Crowd

I had to get to work on my first fiction dog book, which I hope to have ready to roll out in a month. However,  after two straight days working on the sidewalks pleading for women at the abortion mill to choose life, I really felt I needed to kayak. Kayaking is one of the most peaceful and calming activities of my life. I love being on the river. So I went for just an hour.

While on the water, one of the women (A)  I had counseled who chose life several months ago texted me. She and I are often in touch, and of all the "saves", she is the one with the biggest list of obstacles in bringing the baby to term. Nonetheless, her text today told me, "I am feeling so good today!"
I paddled and then answered, "I am so glad! Good health-wise, or good circumstances?" I had been trying to help her in finding work/childcare/training given her many challenges. Mostly, I was just an encouraging voice in her discouraging life, and pointing her continually to rely on God.

"Both!" she texted back. She had interviewed for a job that she felt confident she would get, and had potential free childcare lining up. It would be two dreams towards a new and better life come true! I promised to pray. I told her I couldn't text much more since I was in my kayak, and the breeze was blowing me into the shore. I sent her this video to show her what I was doing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfFJGfj1bMk&feature=youtube_gdata_player&app=desktop

I hope you can see it. I was kayaking along when I came to a huge gaggle of geese. Fortunately, I always have my duck call with me, so I immediately chased after the group, calling them with my wonderful duck call. Personally, I can't tell the difference between the duck call and goose call, and hoped the geese couldn't either. They did turn and glance at me, but then hightailed it out of there. Maybe they thought I was a duck.  To videotape it, I had to hang my phone in its waterproof pouch around my neck, and hope the geese were in view as I paddled after them. They are in view in the video...mostly.

Then A texted back, and asked what lake I was on. I told her I was on the Catawba River and one day, would love to take her kayaking.
"I love water, and exercise is good when I'm pregnant...." she texted, "That sounds so nice."
So I am setting up a day to take her and her kids kayaking.

I was thinking of how so many of the women at the abortion mill are like the gaggle of geese I was chasing. I really just want to communicate with them, to share the message of hope and deliverance. (Not to the geese...but certainly to the women.) Most of them run from my call, just like the geese. I understand it is not me, really, but God's call they are running from. Whenever God asks us to do something that is hard or frightening, I think most of us hightail it out of there. It takes courage and strength to listen to Him when what He asks seems impossible...but the Bible promises that when we do turn to Him, He is a refuge and strength. It is better to fail doing what He asks of us than to succeed in rebellion against Him.

I kept waiting for a goose to break from the crowd, and turn around. What a thrill if one would listen to my call, and even paddle hard upstream to come near. None of the geese in my video did that, but it would have been so wonderful if one had. It is always my hope. That's why I keep my duck call with me. I'll keep calling and hope someone is listening....

A texted me again, "I cleaned the baby's room today getting ready for all the stuff Cities4Life is bringing me. I woke up happy and ready to meet my little handsome baby!"  This is the woman who had been hopelessly sobbing at the door of the abortion mill 3 months ago.

It is so nice to have one swim upstream and make it!
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1 Peter 2:21 

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Matthew 16:24 

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 7:21-23 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

1 John 2:3-4

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

1 Peter 1:14-16

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”