Lessons Learned from Crawfish

Recently, I had the opportunity to take my family and some friends that are close enough that they should count as family on a little excursion down south to take part in a little crustacean scavenger hunt. Now for any non-Louisianans that may be scrolling their eyes across these words, the particular crustaceans in our cross-hairs on that day were the delightful delicacies that we affectionately call “crawfish” knowing full well that the accurate spelling is crayfish (even the spell check on this document wants me to fix it!), but hey – it is what it is! So off we went in search of enough mud-bugs to satisfy the appetites of nearly a dozen people (and if you’ve seen a couple of these put away food, you’ll understand that this chore was easier said than done!). We had fun and achieved our goal. What follows is a list of small lessons that caught my attention as we went about our day:

(1) Sometimes you have to get dirty if you’re going to accomplish your goal. I really had no intention of wading off into the mud and water – I figured the kids could do that. However, it didn’t take long to understand that the kiddos were more into the good time than the getting it done. Whatever the task at hand, the words of my old pastor still ring true – Success doesn’t come quick, cheap, or easy – but it is infinitely worthwhile when you’ve worked hard to achieve it.

(2) Sometimes the true value in a particular thing is more than we may think. We baited our nets that day with what basically amounts to cut up chunks of cow innards. Gross I know, but to the crawfish, it was the equivalent of a char-broiled rib-eye steak! Never write off a person, object, or task just because you don’t see how it can be of any value. After all, it is God Himself that tells us that He uses folks that seem like nothing to put to shame those that think they really are something! (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)

(3) When you run from your problems, you usually end up worse off than if you’d have faced them. As we checked our traps that day, we would dump the critters out of the trap and onto a table with a hole in the middle of it. Some of the mud-bugs of the small variety I fully intended to scoop up and toss back into the water, but they would have none of it. They instinctively ran away (backwards might I add) from the hand that wanted to set them free and fell hopelessly into the hole, into the bag of no return, and ultimately into a pot of boiling water. When troubles come our way, we need to remember that we have the promise from God that  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord, your God…(Isaiah 43:2-3).

The things that the Lord made me realize that day are too many for me to post in this short little writing, but I am convinced that the only thing that keeps us from learning life lessons from all of the everyday tasks we are faced with is our own willingness to open our eyes and ears and allow God to speak to us. I’m convinced He is in a perpetual state of communication with us – His people. The question is this: Are we in a perpetual state of listening for his whispers? I mean let’s face it…if God can use a crawfish to teach a meaningful lesson, He can use anything! Keep your eyes open and your ears attentive, and feel free to share some of the lessons He teaches you through unconventional means! Maybe on the creek, maybe in the woods, or maybe in a muddy old crawfish pond…I’ll see you in the great outdoors!