Squirrel on a Wire

Driving to work today, I noticed a squirrel running across a wire. He was quick and sure footed. He ran across without a care or concern. It didn’t appear that the squirrel had any doubt in his ability to run across the wire. It made me wonder why the squirrel didn’t run across the road. Did he have a bad experience? Did his sister get run over by a car? What if this squirrel had a fear of heights? Then it wouldn’t run across the wire. Maybe his fear would cause him to walk across the wire carefully with hesitation. But this little squirrel had no trouble at all.

Squirrels do what come naturally for them. They do what they were born to do. No one had to tell the squirrel to run across the high wire, it did it to get to the other side. It adapted to the environment around it. Where there was no tree, it improvised.

So what were your born to do? Are you living the life you were created for? What comes naturally to you, but you ignore it because it’s too easy. Is there a change that has to be made in order to adapt to your environment. Did you have a bad experience and now have abandoned that first love? Did you have a dream that you thought would never come true? Does fear of heights hinder your desire to reach for the stars? Do you have to be perfect to pursue your passion? Do you even have to be good at it? Who sets those standards . . . you, a teacher, a parent, or a friend?

Sometimes we think we have no talent because something comes easily and naturally. Some people can sing and never had a singing lesson. I know that some people have this raw talent and it becomes better with lessons. That’s not the point I’m making here. I could have a million lessons and I doubt this side of heaven I could hit a note on key. This doesn’t stop me from singing passionately. You don’t have to feel bad for me. I sing anyway . . . alone in the car and in the shower. Besides I’m cute and have other talents. If singing was among them, it just wouldn’t be fair.

There is nothing as satisfying as doing what you were born to do. Nothing as satisfying as living the life God wants for you. What’s your passion? What makes you feel free and excited? What drives you? You can do what you are passionate about even if you don’t get paid for it. Do you want to run on the ground or on a high wire? I want to run on the high wire freely and passionately towards what God has planned for me. I may never get published but I will continue to write. Writing doesn't come naturally for me, but it was what I was born to do. It’s what I’m passionate about. It’s what gives me pleasure. It’s becoming more natural as time goes on. Sometimes a seed is all we need. When we allow it to grow, we can be surprised at the outcome.

Of course I’m talking about things we do, not passion about people. I’m much more passionate about my relationships than what I do, but you get the idea.

So what’s your passion? What were you made to run on the high wire towards?

© Nadine Z. 2007