It was a quiet late summer afternoon. I decided to take a break from my writing and sit for a bit in the warm fresh fall air on the front porch. I startled some wild turkeys when I opened the door, which didn’t surprise me since they have recently started coming down from the hills to feed on the apples and left-over garden produce. Our garden is pretty much done for this year, so David propped open the gate to allow the deer and wild turkeys to join the rabbits and the squirrels already feasting on the left over tomatoes, squash and peppers. Sharing is good.
I had just sat down with a glass of water when I heard a turkey distress call. Turkeys have a distinct call and one that we hear often around our house. They have different sounds for when they are just grazing or calling to their young. They also have a very loud and unique “bark-chirp” that they make when they are frightened or alarmed. The other turkeys had already started their early evening migration across the road and up the hill to the fir trees where they roost at night. It didn’t take me long to pin-point where the distress was coming from. Not the brightest birds in the animal kingdom, one of them had entered the garden through the open gate and then eaten its way to the back corner where it encountered the fence…which now stood between it and the rest of the flock. It was in full distress. Running back and forth along the fence line, calling out to the rest of the flock who showed no signs of concerns over its distress. Too close to the fence to be able to use its powerful wings to take off and lift it over the netting. In its fear it could not see clearly the wide open gate that had allowed its entry into the garden. I listened for a bit and then decided to try to herd it around the fence and through the open gate. The closer I got, the louder it called. I really felt kind-of sorry for it. All alone and trapped. Finally in a burst of adrenalin fueled fear, it lifted its wings and powered up and over the fence netting, across the road and ran into the trees. All is now well. A major turkey crisis averted.
This scenario immediately got me thinking about my own corners that I allow myself to get trapped in. I enter through the gate not suspecting that anything would go amiss. I follow along with the others, grazing, sampling, nibbling what the world has to offer me. So much better than the other side of the fence! But then reality steps in. I’m in a corner that allows me no escape back to where I should be. Back to where I am safe and protected. Maybe my corner is food? Making wrong choices when my body craves and needs healthy options. Maybe it’s gossip or consuming negativity on Facebook? Using my words and opinions to tear people down instead of build them up.
Think about your life for a moment. Think about what might be your corner. A corner that is trapping you in a behavior or attitude that is not honoring, positive or uplifting to those around you.
The answer is right in front of you. Acknowledge your corner. Don’t allow your fear to keep you from escape. Look hard for the gate to freedom and run…run as fast as you can and then use your wings to lift you up and over.
One of my Bible favorite verses seems to fit this thought;
“but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40: 31
Don’t be a turkey…make a plan to escape your corner on “eagle’s wings.” 
Nice to have you back – both in the US and on the blog.
Thanks Mary, It’s always nice to take a break from the day-to-day life and explore other “worlds.” But it’s equally nice to come back home.
So glad you are back! =) Great lesson in this. Thank you for sharing it.