On Friday morning, the angels of nature made a clarion call. Timothy Tortoise had returned after a long absence. Whenever a tortoise appears, I'm reminded that slow and steady wins the race. His first stop--the butterfly garden, but when I grabbed my camera he was gone. 
Then there he was making tracks on the hot driveway pavement, racing like a hare toward the street. Whenever an animal appears on your path making a spectacle, it's most likely a heads-up angel message for a situation coming your way.
But then, something happened. Timothy suddenly made a U-turn--like an army tanker rolling across the lawn toward the sandhill cranes. Watching at the window, I tried to veer him off in another direction, asking the angels for help.
But the tortoise kept coming closer until the cranes took notice. A touch of amazing synchronicity made me wonder, what was going on? Timothy had stopped beside our large tortoise garden statue. The tortoise was his size and he rested underneath the tall buttercup plants surrounding the statue.
Six-pair of amber eyes peered over sharp, long beaks aimed down at the gopher tortoise. Scrambling through the mulch bed, Timothy made it onto the wide-terraced steps. But in order to step down to flat land, he had to find a safe way or risk taking a tumble and tipping over on his back. Wisely, he quickly kept at it, checking the long ledge for an opening, but there was none. The cranes were waiting at the other end where he needed to exit. He had no choice, but to face his fears head-on.
The adult cranes had lost interest and moved a short distance away. But Junior was fascinated and frightened by this strange rock rolling toward his clawed feet. He did a little jump, and took a protective Hulk stance. Wings raised upward and down, warding off trouble.
When Timothy boldly rolled forward...Junior backed off. The danger passed, and the tortoise was back in the race again, no harm done. (The little video clip of Junior and Timothy is posted on the angel blog website.)
But more tortoise energy was to come...
Late that evening while on the porch enjoying the garden lights, we were talking about Timothy's visit, wondering what was the lesson?
What happened next shouldn't have been a surprise. Thoughts are things. They have energy.
And would you believe... as if on cue... I heard a rustling movement. I stood up to look out the porch. What was going on? In the glow of the lantern light, what a wonderful sight. That large heavy helmet was rolling across the patio on his way back home to the woods! A sweet note to end the day.
A humbling moment, full of grace and gratitude. Things are not as they appear...more is going on than we presently realize. Angels are with us. I called out thanks to Timothy for his message of hope: No matter what you're going through...no matter how dark and fearful it may become, trust that God will make a way, against all odds. Take it slow and steady, like the tortoise...do your best...and listen for direction. Victory is assured. All things are possible with God.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
