Why the Odd Name for the Blog?

My purpose in our blog is to take a look at the lessons we've learned through our own mistakes in our lives and in our marriage, how God really does have a humorous side to Him, how He fiercely loves us, and how we are continually learning to take care of the basics before moving on to more challenging tasks.  Come walk with me and join the journey as we all

Hike through the Waters of Life!

Welcome to Wet Feet, Dry Socks

I'm so glad that you've stopped by.  I have been a blogger for some time, but my other blog (ImperfectPeople, Perfect Redeemer) disappeared sometime early last year.  As I begin writing again, I will post a few of my favorite blogs as well as write new ones.  I'll be writing more soon.  Thanks again for stopping by!

Lessons Learned from the Belly of a Big Fish



Two days ago I felt led to write a blog. Had I written this blog when I initially wanted to the tenor, the tone would have been very different. You would have likely read about how the last two weeks were without a doubt the most heartbreaking, most difficult of my teaching career. As you read on you would learn that even though I've been teaching several years, I have learned I am far from seasoned in my profession. To wrap it up, I would have penned how God burdened my heart with what my eyes see daily, my ears hear, and how it just about broke even me, someone I thought had pretty tough skin for working and teaching the youth of today.

So, what "Road to Damascus" turn around happened in my life in the time span of a day or two? What took the stern of my boat that was clearly sailing off into the thoughts of "Why am I doing this?" to turn into the peaceful shore of "Why wouldn't I be doing this?" Ok, so I admit, I didn't really envision it quite this way sailing off into a pink sunset, but more like a battle raging inside my heart that questioned my desire to teach, to continue on. But God allowed me this time, no matter how brief, to teach me a very important lesson.

Some time ago someone quipped at me and it was extremely hurtful. Deeply hurt, I simply left. I couldn't believe someone would say what they did, and I hurt very deeply from those words that stabbed into my heart.

The following day I received an email from a dear friend I had not heard from in over two weeks which is particularly unusual. But as I read the email, I understood why. I had said something out of line, out of place, and out of character for me. She fully explained her hurt and I fully understood the repercussions of my words and began laying the groundwork to mend this relationship. This was definitely a "mendable" moment of misplaced words turned into a healed repaired friendship.

I quickly learned that I had spoken too soon......just like the person that spoke out of frustration to me. As all of these parallels were swimming around in my head, I quickly thought of one of my favorite prophets in the Bible, Jonah.

Jonah and I have a lot in common. We both tend to be cowards when God says "Go this way, I need you in Ninevah." Or for me, "I need you in this place, in this school, now." But just like Jonah tried to bargain with God to go to Tarshish where he felt he would be better received, I try to coax God into my plan. My plan of wanting to be in a place that is more receptive and more accepting. As God replayed this parallel over and over in my mind the past couple of days, I realized I may very well be where God needs me right now.

As I took twenty four hours to pray and fast with my friend which we do weekly, I asked God to somehow show me or reveal to me affirmation that I am in His will, or to direct me down a different path.

In a resounding way, he answered three very clear prayers that indeed give me clear affirmation and hope that we are walking down the road He has planned for us for now.

If you are in the belly of a big fish right now trying to fit God into your plans, your schedule, just remember that He can take you to the very place you don't want to go or to one person you most resist in order to accomplish His purpose. It may take a couple of days of being in the uncomfortable yucky belly of the fish (like it did for both Jonah and I) for you to realize why God had you there all along....to trust His way.

My verse for this week: Luke 6:32-33"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that.