The other night in a dream I held a photograph of myself.  I looked at the picture very intently as I was embracing a sea turtle.  I smiled widely and wore a red flannel pullover.  I was not in the least upset that I held there close to my side a giant turtle.  I could feel the ridges of its shell through my shirt.  Its legs and arms were outside the shell.  I noted the brown diamond-shaped spots on its head--the black onyx eyes.  I didn't think "she" (intuited this sea creature was female) was too heavy or cumbersome.  I wanted to hold onto her.

I wondered what this dream could be telling me--how God might be speakng to me.  Then that very day I was browsing about on the internet and ran into a snippet of video about sea turtles.  I learned that on land the turtles travel about 2 mph.  But when they reach the ocean, their speed accelerates to 20 mph.  People tell me I'm slow.  When I drive, most passengers become anxious, because I travel just under the speed limit. (This really drives my husband crazy). I speak slowly, enunciating my words quite clearly.  I often linger with decision making, and inch along toward making changes.  Yet like a turtle on land, I'm quite steady as I head toward goals I sense are my calling.  I often need to crawl into my shell to practice solitude and silence, to regroup after a long week at work. I crave margin, as plenty of space acts as a protective shell to keep me centered and listening to the Holy Spirit.

When I write, though, it's like the sea turtle finally reaching the ocean.  I find that I can move at an increased pace that allows me to feel as if I'm flying.  It's such a great feeling, because the page is my habitat.  I was created to swim in this crystalline sea of words.  To write is in my DNA.

While I've been blogging today, I'm burning a candle.  Its scent is called "Fearless."  I bought the candle solely for the name, hoping it would smell fragrant.  It has a sharp, citrusy smell that I associate now with courage.  I light it often when I write, because as much as I love writing, it takes all my bravery to keep "heading for the ocean" each week.  I often feel as if I go even more slowly than 2 mph, what with working fulltime, relationship upkeep, paying bills and coping with the unexpected stuff of life that makes up a week.

But then I see myself in that dream photo.  I see the exuberant smile, the love for that wonderful giant of the ocean--and I remember, "Courage, Priscilla.  Think fearless."  

We are all unique, created for so many wonderful endeavors.  Where are you with yours?  I shout from the page:  "Don't give up. Take your next step.  Embrace who God created you to be.  You don't have to do things perfectly to move forward.  Even at a turtle's pace, there is success, the span of ocean very close."