Travel like a Penguin

"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears."

Just recently I read the story of a man in Brazil who rescued a Magellanic penguin who was covered in oil and struggling to survive. Once the penguin fully recovered the man released him back into the wild. The Brazilian now can't get rid of him! The penguin will travel afar, only to come back and spend 8 months out of the year with the man who saved him. Kindness has it's rewards!

In the documentary film March of the Penguins, you will learn the astonishing life of Emperor penguins. The filmmakers spent or should I say prevail through temperatures hovering around 40 below zero to capture amazing footage of these creatures and their habitat during breeding season.

What is so unique about these creatures is that it is the male penguin who protects the eggs for up to 125 days, while the female penguins begin their trek for hundreds of miles for food, which they will digest and then travel back to nurture their young. It truly is a reversal of roles, isn't it?

Penguins are unselfish.

Penguins like to travel, just as us humans do. And no matter what road or trail we embark on, we are sure to come across at least one person who may need our assistance. I've had this happen several times, and I have found that it was pure perfect timing. After having visited and ministered to so many people in various settings the last few months, I have not only become comfortable around anybody, but more visible to my surroundings, observant of whomever I come in contact with.

Yesterday I started out walking on my usual trail, a 3 mile loop around Salt Creek and sure enough it happened. I was not even a few steps onto the trail when a man walking his dog and unfamiliar with where the trail leads or goes to found me. Or was it I found him?

 As we began to strike up a conversation, we would end up walking the entire 3 mile loop together. Needless to say he was thankful our paths met, thankful he came across someone who knew where they were going so he didn't get lost, and we ended up enjoying our walk and conversation together, something he said he needed.

Today there are some many people struggling, especially here in America.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Be observant of those around you.

Strip yourself of yourself  and your selfishness.

True humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.

 Remember, travel light. You never know who might need you.