BECOMING A CHIPMUNK

I am beginning to make peace with my mountain home.

I am beginning to remember why I have always dreamed about living in the mountains.

The other day "The Hub" and I took a hike – one of those hikes that I love so much when we go camping.  Only this time, it was on our own property. Surrounded by massive oak trees and pine trees, crunching leaves and branches underfoot, gazing at giant tumbled boulders (like 12 feet tall) – I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't on vacation – I could do this anytime.

Of course, the other day I was also reminded that I do need to be careful out there in the wilderness that is my backyard now.  "The Hub" caught another HUGE rattlesnake right by our trashcans – (lucky for me that I never take out the trash – HA!)

Other than Mr. Pacific Rattler, I do love the wildlife up here.

The hawks, the deer (sometimes with babies), the blue jays, woodpeckers, quail, the lizards, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks.

My favorite are the chipmunks.

I love watching them chase each other around.  Sometimes I'll watch them from my window for a long time – my own version of reality TV.

Here's one thing I've noticed, though.

Whenever I go outside, or if I have to drive down the road into town, all the animals I come across scatter and scamper away – frightened by me.

It kinda makes me sad.

I wish they knew that I wasn't scary, or mean, or threatening – I wish they knew that I was no danger to them.  I wish they knew that I love them.

I've often wondered – how on earth could I convey that to them?

An idea came to me today…

Become a chipmunk.

Bingo.

I stopped and thought about it – have I lost sight of the wonder of the Incarnation?

Have I ceased to be amazed at a God who chose to become one of us – just like you and me?

If I became a chipmunk – I could speak their language, I could relate to their chipmunk life.  Sure, I would be giving up an awful lot – many of the privileges and abilities of being a human.

But, by being a chipmunk, I could communicate my true feelings to those furry little rodents.

Today I read this in one of my daily devotionals:

"Throughout the Old Testament, God seems to alternate between Spectator and Participant…The New Testament, though, shows the God who selflessly shared the dignity of causation by descending to become its Victim.  The One who had the right to destroy the world – and had nearly done so in Noah's day – chose instead to love the world, at any cost."  (Finding God in Unexpected Places, by Philip Yancey)

Don't get me wrong – God is still scary, Someone to be treated with respectful fear and awe.

But also, in an unfathomable way, He is Someone who chose to become a chipmunk.

Just so He could communicate His love.

Wonders never cease.

God put aside His God-ness, to save the world (you and me) because He loved us.

That stops me in my tracks…

As it should.


Thanks for the lesson, Mr. Chippie the Munk –

And Lord, thank you for what You did by becoming one of us.

This furry little rodent is eternally grateful!


My paraphrase, if you'll allow me:

"For God so loved the chipmunk world, that He sent His only Son to become a chipmunk.  And whatever chipmunk chooses to believe in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life."


Stop and think about it again today - what does God becoming one of us truly mean to you?


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