LIFE IS NOT JUST FORAGING

Accept God's loving help!

John 10:10: "The thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly."

2nd Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

I just re-read one of my favorite books, a children's book about a...mouse! Somehow, despite my bluntness, I can relate to the scurry of mice... small creatures, food for so many other animals, battling for survival, small, unseen, trashed, unwanted. As I used to work in a small library, shelving books, I discovered much magic in the children's library section, with encouragement, inspiration, wonder! I was not prepared for the wisdom there.

I am no "apex predator," even if my sharp tongue defends myself.

This small mouse is part of his structured tribe, with rules of behavior. He begins to have unplanned adventures, has to fight for his very life, become more acutely aware and hones his survival instincts. The wisdom in this book was not expected.

I can relate, coming from so many years of "head down in survival mode." In this manner, you don't look side to side but directly ahead, staying in primal level, "foraging". Also, each creature of the animal realm has their own methods and view of the world around them. Same as humans, this small mouse begins to question the narrow parameters, as at some point, he is thrown out of his tribe and forced to learn things quickly (mouse, I can definitely relate!)

God has another way, a profoundly better way. He offers life and blessings of fellowship with Him. Even when life is more difficult, He is relentlessly by our side. He is never a part-time Papa. His Son Jesus Christ came to earth to intercede for suffering humanity and continues to do this daily, in prayer for us, right next to the Father!

God uses the most amazing methods to lead me by teaching in a manner my soul can resonate with. This particular children's book about the mouse speaks of adventure, distress, dismay, the fight for survival and finding the resources hidden within. This mouse becomes an adventurer but his focus was always on foraging, the relentless hunt for food. His whole "kitchen mouse tribe" had rules and demands that must be followed, lest they be kicked out of the tribe. Sounds like the bully named the devil, who comes to steal, to kill and to destroy.

Papa God was with me through the loss of two places to live in five years, due to financial pressures. One was my home of over 20 years in downtown San Francisco, in Summer of 2011. One was a home of 3 1/2 years in San Mateo, in which I lost both my home and job as on-site apartment Manager when the new owner of the building decided to bring in his own chosen manager, with one month notice, end of January 2016. Even though I had been steadily praying to find a way to leave San Francisco and Bay area, I could not have imagined how God would facilitate this. In hindsight, He was the Tutor of my own resourcefulness, never expected or strongly used to this level before. I am very street-smart but never imagined this need. To some degree, the two big cities and close in urban areas I lived in for nearly forty years (Seattle, San Francisco and close-in SF Bay Area in San Mateo), taught me huge things about survival and resourcefulness and it was in San Francisco that my 35 years as a Prodigal to my Christian faith, came to an end!!

In the first displacement, I was marignally homeless for almost thirteen months, with ten different places I stayed over the time-frame. I had periodic help, as I was also steadily seeking a solution to the situation, all the way through. Part of the time, I traveled further north, seeking opportunity. That did not pan out but plenty was learned, quickly! I reluctantly returned to the Bay Area for almost five more years and got my former Leasing agent job back, for the time being.

The second displacement entailed me leaving the SF Bay area completely, following a Craig's List posting in desperation and going north, far from my familiar stomping grounds. In this new place, God cared for me in miraculous ways, bringing me a simple library job, a wonderful church fellowship and a good place to live. From knowing not one soul, to having a place to belong, God worked miracle after miracle for me.

All through the maelstrom of this searing displacement, Papa's hands were on me. Even semi-homeless, I always had a roof, food, transport, communication and access to a church fellowship.

Even the mouse in the story had food, shelter, ability to learn and adjust and used that to bring himself back to his home territory. His struggle to find his way back home drew such a reaction in my spirit, it brought tears to my eyes. The mouse had been captured by a tribe of four raccoons. While they planned to soon have him for dinner, they allow him to remain with them for a couple of days. In the middle of the captivity, the mouse is shown food sources, a place for water (which coincidentally is a stream that he suspects is one that leads directly back toward his home base) and feels a resourcefulness and unknown courage rise within him. After two days with the raccoons, he quietly begins his escape, scurrying away while the raccoons are sound asleep. His memories of what he was shown, his essential survival understanding, his innate resourcefulness, this brings him, after a day of exhausting travel, directly to the stream which will lead him back home.

I can see parallels to my own life in this story.

This is directly how God works with me. He uses tender story, empathy, showing the way. He asks me to be a partner and participant in my own life, showing me that I can indeed, make a difference, even within the realm of despair. This, for me, is revolutionary and how God works.

I will take that run for the stream and the way back Home.

Wendy Elizabeth Williams, Friday May 30, 2025

(By the way, the name of the children’s book is "Young Fredle" by Cynthia Voight, a phenomenal author of masterfully written books!)

--Consider becoming a paid subscriber to A Blunt Oregon Girl at $5.00 a month or $60 per year.

-- Consider donating any amount from $1 on up, on my Ko-fi page at https://Ko-fi.com/wendyelizabethwilliams. You can donate once, periodically or monthly, as you feel guided. I am also writing, at Holy Spirit's nudging, one shorter piece per week on my Ko-fi page, focusing mainly on my lifetime love of all things fabric, garments, the realm of beauty and the flow between the two tribes of humanity, men and women. I will place each weekly short Ko-fi piece onto Substack Notes each Friday night after I get my weekly longer Substack piece up. This week’s Ko-fi piece is called “Strut”, about how little I like the pressure on women to strut their stuff! Also, I am in planning phase to create a short e-book on my Ko-fi site, featuring very useful tips I learned in the direct survival mode when I was mariginally homeless for those thirteen months. Please let me know if you have any interest in this e-book, as it will be very affordable, less than $4.

Consider hiring me for short hops of writing. I am an advocate especially for what I call "Micro-entrepreneurs", companies of one or a handful (like me!) I am very skilled at what I call "emotional-descriptive" writing. Essentially I write what would draw me to buy something! As strange as that sounds, I am resistant to many "sales pitches", which feel too pressuring and it occured to me, to simply write from my own emotional point of view. While I would not necessarily be drawn to all products or services, ones presented with an authentic and positive-emotional spirit, would draw me more. Just a thought to consider, as authentic emotion is an excellent way to present your product or service. Very affordable and no long-term commitment needed. Contact me here on Notes via a Direct Message or on my Ko-fi page with a message there.

--Finally, please pray for me, that I clearly hear Holy Spirit's still, small voice of counsel and encouragement. Thank you, Wendy