A little hairy worm got our attention this week. This worm did not get our attention because of being beautiful, not because it could be a fishing worm, not for being a beneficial worm we would want in our garden, not as a caterpillar we would expect to become a beautiful butterfly. In fact, we suspected this worm was one that was more of a pest and very unwanted. We watched this worm from our dining room window as we were eating our lunch. The whole situation was a bit puzzling. We noticed the worm on an empty cat food can that is for jelly that we provide for the orioles. The can is on a block of wood that we put in a pan of water. It is like this to keep ants from getting to the jelly. So it was puzzling to us as to how the hairy worm appeared on the can on the block of wood in the middle of a pool of water in a rubber animal feed pan. But there the worm was! As we watched, this worm went on a trip! It was a trip around the top of the can. It repeated its trip again and again and again. Round and round and round went the little worm. Periodically it would lean down to search for a different way. And at times it lifted its head to see if there was a way to go up in that direction. Neither way was possible. After multiple trips it seemed to get tired and just stopped. Having researched about orioles, we knew that hairy pest-like caterpillars are part of the diet of orioles. So we were hoping that an oriole or two or any bird would come to the jelly feeder and find this dietary oriole treat! Of course, when you want something to happen and want it to happen immediately, it’s kind of like how God answers prayers—with the yes, or no, or wait and wait and wait. We waited for the oriole and it began to seem like there wouldn’t be orioles any time soon. Even the sparrows seemed oblivious to the free protein food, being more interested in suet and sunflower seeds. But eventually, an oriole came flying in. Aaahhhh! Now we would get the show we wanted. That silly little hairy caterpillar remained still! The oriole who we thought had good bird eyes seemed to need bird glasses! It couldn’t see the worm, the worm had given up traveling! Finally the worm began to travel again! Still, the worm remained oblivious and the oriole kept gobbling jelly! Eventually the worm reached the feet of the bird—still no bird response. When the worm crawled on to the feet of the bird, suddenly the bird decided to fly away! And away went the worm, hitchhiking on the feet of the bird!! We did not feel that this story had a proper ending at all!!!!! Later, we got to wondering if that was how the worm got onto the can to begin with? The answer to that question will never get a proper answer either!
As I thought about this incident I had an interesting thought. If I had as many feet as that ugly, little, hairy pest of a worm, I would have needed a rest, too! I relate quite well to this scenario. I only have two feet and often after just a short walk, because I have mobility problems, I want to take a rest! If I had multiple pairs of feet, I might never even get started walking because of the dread. But I am not a worm, thankfully, and I know that God wants me to keep busy moving forward on my daily walk with Him.
The picture of a worm circling the edge of a can perfectly captures our human tendencies to stay trapped in comfortable, endless loops we make daily, or when we obsessively revisit the same old anxieties that occupy our minds and other unresolved problems. I have lost many hours of sleep when I revisit the things that have happened to me or that have bothered me or even things that might happen in the future that would cause me stress or distress! I have a big one that has caused me much sleep loss. I have often wished that I could just know the why, maybe I could understand and move on. I know that the first time the word divorce appeared in my family, it was so foreign to me that I lost many nights of sleep, some to bad dreams. I go around and around with my thoughts. Does it do me any good? No. Does it resolve anything? No, not a single thing. Does it help fix the problem? No. The only fix is to turn it all over to God and let Him fix it. And then pray that He will help me to forget! These kinds of behaviors are highly relatable for everyone I would guess, but the point of this message lies in recognizing that you don’t have to stay stuck in a repeating cycle of frustrations and stress.
Just like our worm tracing the familiar, smooth rim at the top of a can, we often keep going around and around, doing the same things while we are expecting different results. The top of the can represents the safety of the known—even if the known is small, restrictive, and limiting for me. I allowed the fear of the unknown (the “outside” of the can) to dictate my life. I wanted to stay safely in my comfortable rut rather than risking a step of faith forward into something new that God was planning for me. In Romans 12:2, we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. God doesn’t want me endlessly circling the same negative thoughts, old habits, or past mistakes. A worm going in circles never gets anywhere. Spiritually, this seems to represent our Endless Worries as we return again and again to the same fears instead of giving them to God (Philippians 4:6-7). We have vain Repetitions bygoing through the motions of faith without genuine daily growth or breaking new ground. To break free of the endless circling, the worm has to alter its course, stop following the same edge, and take a leap into the unknown center of the can into the sticky situation to perhaps find a way out (probably to get eaten) or perhaps hitchhike out and away. For us, breaking the cycle requires me to surrender and by handing over control to a higher purpose and trusting that God has a bigger “can”—a wider, more purposeful world—for me to explore. I must purposefully step out of familiar, negative cycles and align my daily actions with God’s word.
What “edge” are you currently tracing? Take a moment to think and reflect on whether you are simply circling the same old limitations in your life or career, and join me in praying for the courage to step away from the edge to see where God is leading me and you next.
An oriole ignoring a protein-rich worm to exclusively feast on sweet jelly is a perfect symbol for human nature. We often choose the instant gratification of easy comfort (like the jelly) over what truly sustains and builds us (the oriole) up in the long run (the worm). We all have a craving for Comfort. Just like the oriole, we naturally gravitate toward things that are sweet, easy, and immediately satisfying. In our spiritual and daily lives, it is so easy to consume empty calories—whether that is endless scrolling on face book, gossip, or avoiding the hard conversations—because it takes less effort than doing the “heavy lifting” of growth. While jelly provides a quick burst of energy for the bird, it lacks the protein and nutrition they need to thrive, build nests, or raise their young. Similarly, temporary pleasures can give me a temporary high, but then cannot sustain us through the trials of life. I and others need the “protein” of discipline, patience, and meaningful connections to build a resilient character. The oriole doesn’t know any better; it acts on its God given instincts. But as humans, we are granted the wisdom to choose. Instead of settling for the “sugar rush” of instant satisfaction, we are called to seek out the deeper, richer truths and tasks that might be tougher to swallow initially but yield long-term fulfillment.
The next time you see a bird ignoring natural food for an easy treat, let’s let it serve as a gentle reminder to evaluate what you are feeding your own mind, soul, and body every day. Are you settling for the jelly, or are you willing to digest the worm? I get tempted to take the easy jelly way! Don’t be tempted like me! Like Peter and Paul say, we need to eat the meat of the Word and not the milk of the Word. (See Hebrews 5:12-14) As the oriole really should have been interested in the worm instead of the jelly, which is only temporary like milk versus the worm/meat.
God has lessons to teach me every single day! Be sure to read His Second Book!