Disoriented Turkey

Lost Turkey

Last night my husband and I had just sat down to eat, when our dogs ran to the front door and furoiciously barked at the intruder they saw through the glass door, standing on our front porch.  It was a turkey.  A white turkey at that.  I didn’t even know they came in white.  The ones I have seen are of mottled colors of browns, greys and black.  By the time I got my camera, the turkey had moved to the front yard.  We live in the country so we often see moose, deer, and flocks of turkeys.

What struck me about this turkey was that it was all alone. They usually travel in a flock around here. I actually walked out to about 20 feet from it.

“Hey there, guy or girl.  Are you lost?  Have you been deserted?”  I said quietly.  It stood there staring at me, softly cooing a response in turkey language, as if asking for directions, or wanting to know where its companions were.  I wish I knew turkey talk.  I would have helped that turkey anyway I could.

Of course, that is when the battery in the camera began slowly dying. I couldn’t take that picture.  I knew better than to get too much closer, so I left it alone and went inside. I don’t know where it went, but shortly after that it wandered away from our front yard.  The thought of the lost and lonely turkey was with me for the rest of the evening especially because I was just working on a post about loneliness and feelings of being lost and forgotten.

I have felt much like that turkey at many times.  Lost and alone, I have wandered around in my life feeling I have been deserted.  When I tried to explain to someone how lost and alone I felt, they did not always understand.

God understands our talk in any language.  He understands whispered prayers and requests blubbered in between sobs. He even understands angry accusations thrown at Him that come out of our own grief.  I have done all that.

God  loves us and has extended His grace to us in the most loving act.  He sacrificed Himself through His Son.  He loves us and has extended His amazing grace as proof.

Amazing Grace  (lyrics to the song)

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
a life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
than when we first begun.

John Newton, wrote the words to the song. “Amazing Grace”.   It was published in 1779.  The song’s message of forgiveness and redemption offers peace with God to everyone, regardless of one’s prior lifestyle, sins, actions or thougths.  Of all people, John Newton would know the huge relief of being freed from his weight of sins.  He had been a cruel slave trader who later lived in despair over his own behavior and lifestyle. He then turned to God and found freedom in God’s amazing mercy, love and grace.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

By ~ Elizabeth Yalian  ©2013