It’s amazing the little bits of trivial knowledge gained working on a blog! How often does one research the octopus?? Did you know their tentacles aren’t for swimming at all?
Nope.
Instead, there is a little jet stream within that propels them through the depths of the ocean.
Who knew??? But more on that later!
I have to admit, it has been a challenging week or two.
I couldn’t understand what was going on, but I think I am starting to figure it out…I am feeling a bit like an octopus who’s tentacles are being pulled in 8 different directions.
The “mommy can you help me?” tentacle
The missionary paperwork tentacle
The trying to keep up relationships at home tentacle
The cleaning the house and cooking meals tentacle
The studying to learn a foreign language tentacle
The hoping to build new relationships here tentacle
The immigration, citizenship and student visa bureaucracy tentacle
and the really wanting to be a good wife tentacle
And all of them in a country where I only understand a fraction of the culture and speak just a bit of the language!
PHEW! No wonder I am exhausted!!!
And I think of all the women I know at home who’s days are just as packed with school, church and social activities. Who manage to train for marathons and serve on the PTA. Who hold down full time jobs, and cheer their kids on at sports events. And who are probably just as exhausted. We’ve all got a serious case of over-extended tentacles!!!
But what I realized was that it is easy to start living in such a way that we let our tentacles determine our direction. Whichever one is being pulled the hardest is the way we go, until the demands of another part of our lives is stronger and we go in that direction…And, it is easy to get a big huge honkin’ tentacle ache from all that pulling.
But, remember…the octopus doesn’t use its tentacles to swim. It is propelled from within. And, in my mind, that propulsion should be allowing God to direct our priorities from within us and not by the world around us.
If we are seeking God’s purpose for our lives, there is no need to feel like the demands of life are going to rip our tentacles off!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight”
~Proverbs 3:5
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans”
~Proverbs 16:3
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”
~Psalm 37:23 (NASB)
It is so hard to resist the constant demands of our society and let our tentacles follow behind as we are propelled forward in God’s perfect plan and direction as He leads us. I can only imagine what an octopus would look like swimming in the ocean if it were to try to use its tentacles. It sure wouldn’t be functioning the way it was made to…
Are you???
Dear Christy:
After over 33 years of marriage and 29 years of ministry/mission we understand pretty well what you mean by sharing this illustration of the octopus.
It seems even today, like it is very difficult to choose prioritites among all those duties and tasks.
Lessons help but it is only the guidance and the renewal of strenght every day which only the Holy Spirit can give us to have the wisdom and energy to keep on.
Be of good cheer, the Lord is with you!
Hugo and Miriam Gomez
for Global CHE Enterprises,
The Meso-America CHE Region and
Medical Ambassadors of Guatemala.