The life of a sea turtle is a fascinating journey. The female will spend close to 30 years at sea before returning to the beaches where her life began. With her powerful flippers, she excavates an egg chamber in the sand, depositing a clutch of approximately 100 eggs, and then covers the pit with sand before returning to the sea.
The eggs are alone and face many risks. The nest may be flooded by the tides causing heavy mortality. Eggs face the possibility of being crushed or consumed when predators raid the nest.
After at least seven weeks, the hatchlings emerge from their nest. Each hatchling is less than 2 inches long and only weighs about one ounce. As soon as they emerge, the hatchlings make their way to the ocean. The journey is long and treacherous. Until they are in the water, hatchlings are at a high risk of being eaten by predators. Once the hatchlings reach the sea, they begin a journey that will lead them across the entire Atlantic Ocean.
There may come a time in our lives when things look bleak with a lack of progress. Before we emerge, we may feel stuck under the sands of our circumstances, like we can’t do anything. Everything may seem dark. Maybe we have already faced many trials, just like the hatchlings before they emerged. But we must persevere. We can’t stop there. We must stay hopeful in those times because once we emerge our path will become clear.
In the Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell, there comes a time when we reach our lowest point. We can go no further as the person we used to be. It is at this point that we are forced to change. To become greater than our past self and to emerge stronger and new.
When the hatchlings emerge, their direction and purpose is clear. When we are faithful in the process, we must believe we are moving towards a definite goal, even though sometimes we are unable to see movement or direction. God has a wonderful future for us. “For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. All we must do is be faithful in His process and believe that God’s promises will be fulfilled in His time.
“…consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:2-3
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
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