I ASKED FOR A DOLPHIN - I GOT A TURTLE

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake…”  Psalms 23

Those who know me know that the water is my zen place. It is where I do my deepest thinking, praying and listening. I did all three today as I sat on the rough lava rocks at the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii. It was meant to be a few minutes of tranquility – sitting by the ocean while I ate my lunch. What it turned into was me pouring my heart out to God and receiving the most blessed sermon I didn’t know I needed. I’ve been struggling lately, as I know many Christians have, about the state of our country. The unrest, division and violence has gotten so far out of control that it is almost the norm now. I am not okay with this. And that is what I told God. I spoke from my broken heart about the condition of our world. He didn’t just pat me on the back and say it will be okay and now put a smile on your face. What he did, however, was assure me that many times there has to be a breakdown to break through whatever walls have been built. I have lived many years now on this planet. I’ve seen a president slain along with his brother, as well as a renowned civil rights leader and numerous attempts on others, mass shootings in public places and schools, and singling out public figures and murdering them. All these acts of violence shaped my desire for peace and nonviolence in our world. Slowly, we as a society have built walls of division. It seems it is no longer “we the people” but it is “our people versus your people.” Battle lines have been drawn. How did we get to this place of not being able to “agree to disagree” and each go on with our lives? Why is there such a great need to be right? These are the discussions and questions I brought to God with my heavy heart. I knew I was not going to be struck with the solution for world peace in the hour or so I sat there but it did help just to vent and cry and let God know that I was not giving up but at the same time I was torn up. I recommitted myself to the mission that has been given to me and rededicated myself to a closer walk with Jesus each day. I wiped my tears and pulled out my phone to take some pictures of the beauty I was surrounded by. Looking directly ahead of me, I spotted something in the water. Did a person fall in there with all those waves crashing into the shore? I looked closer and as I waited patiently, there it was again. It was a turtle leg. The turtle head soon appeared much to my delight! “Well angels,” I said, “I asked to see a dolphin out here and you gave me a turtle instead!” Turtle hung out with me and let me take some video of him surfacing, playing in the waves. I could have filmed him all day but a voice softly and gently said “put the camera down and listen to what turtle is saying.” Obediently, yet reluctantly, I did so. I sat focused on the water because I didn’t want to lose sight of my miracle turtle. When he rose up again, he reminded me of the Native Americans story of creation of our great land. I had forgotten all about that beautiful story and yet here was a sign from God that he has everything under control. It was a promise that this breakdown we are experiencing is heading toward a breakthrough and that our country will be stronger for it. [I have added the Turtle Island creation story at the end for anyone unfamiliar with it]

Dear Angels, I didn’t get to see a dolphin today as much as my heart felt it needed that. What I was given was something so enlightening and special that words cannot convey the joy that I experienced. Why do we fight so hard sometimes to get what we believe we need instead of surrendering and allowing the miracles in?

Dear Ones, in the great story brought to your remembrance today, the hero who was able to start the rebuilding process perished as eventually did turtle, both giving their lives for the survival of the whole. They were more interested in building a future where survival of the planet was priority than selfishly withholding their abilities to help. Your hearts are heavy because you are now witnessing a world full of ostriches and peacocks. This is a spiritual war, make no mistake about that. Until those who are unwilling to see start looking up and using their voice, it will remain overrun by the peacocks who are only a distraction. God is the same as he was in the time of Solomon when he declared, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Do not fear the breakdown, Dear Ones. Welcome it as the beginning of the breakthrough to what comes next. Raise your voices and hearts and pray for each other. Pray for those who you perceive as your enemies. Love unconditionally, even when that is the hardest thing you have ever done. Your world is moving into a new dimension, a new paradigm. Do you really want to be left behind to wallow in your bitterness and hatred because you refuse to lay it down? Be a turtle. Be one who builds bridges instead of burning them.

Angels Whisper: You have the answers inside of you at all times. When you seek with a pure heart, they will appear in the crashing waves or the silence of the mountaintop.

Today, I promise to be a turtle.

The Creation Story – Turtle Island [Source Unknown]

For the Ojibway/Anishinabe people, the legend is as follows. Long ago, after the Great Mystery, or Kitchi-Manitou, first peopled the earth, the Anishinabe, or Original People, strayed from their harmonious ways and began to argue and fight with one another. Brother turned against brother and soon the Anishinabe were killing one another over hunting grounds and others disagreements. Seeing that harmony, brotherhood, sisterhood, and respect for all living things no longer prevailed on Earth, Kitchi-Manitou decided to purify the Earth. He did this with water. The water came in the form of a great flood, or mush-ko'-be-wun', upon the Earth destroying the Anishinabe people and most of the animals as well. Only Nanaboozhoo, the central figure in many of the Anishinabe oral traditions, was able to survive the flood, along with a few animals and birds who managed to swim and fly. Nanaboozhoo floated on a huge log searching for land, but none was to be found as the Earth was now covered by the great flood. Nanaboozhoo allowed the remaining animals and birds to take turns resting on the log as well. Finally, Nanaboozhoo spoke. "I am going to do something," he said. "I am going to swim to the bottom of this water and grab a handful of earth. With this small bit of Earth, I believe we can create a new land for us to live on with the help of the Four Winds and Kitchi-Manitou." So Nanaboozhoo dived into the water and was gone for a long time. Finally he surfaced, and short of breath told the animals that the water is too deep for him to swim to the bottom. All were silent. Finally, Mahng, the Loon spoke up. "I can dive under the water for a long way, that is how I catch my food. I will try to make it to the bottom and return with some Earth in my beak." The Loon disappeared and was gone for a very long time. Surely, thought the others, the Loon must have drowned. Then they saw him float to the surface, weak and nearly unconscious. "I couldn't make it, there must be no bottom to this water," he gasped. Then Zhing-gi-biss, the helldiver came forward and said "I will try next, everyone knows I can dive great distances." So the helldiver went under. Again, a very long time passed and the others thought he was surely drowned. At last he too floated to the surface. He was unconscious, and not till he came to could he relate to the others that he too was unable to fetch the Earth from the bottom. Many more animals tried but failed, including Zhon-gwayzh', the mink, and even Mizhee-kay", the turtle. All failed and it seemed as though there was no way to get the much needed Earth from the bottom. Then a soft muffled voice was heard. "I can do it," it spoke softly. At first no one could see who it was that spoke up. Then, the little Wazhushk", muskrat stepped forward. "I'll try," he repeated. Some of the other, bigger, more powerful animals laughed at muskrat. Nanaboozhoo spoke up. "Only KitchiManitou can place judgment on others. If muskrat wants to try, he should be allowed to." So, muskrat dove into the water. He was gone much longer than any of the others who tried to reach the bottom. After a while Nanaboozhoo and the other animals were certain that muskrat had give his life trying to reach the bottom. Far below the water's surface, muskrat, had in fact reached the bottom. Very weak from lack of air, he grabbed some Earth in his paw and with all the energy he could muster began to swim for the surface. One of the animals spotted muskrat as he floated to the surface. Nanaboozhoo pulled him up onto the log. "Brothers and sisters," Nanaboozhoo said, “muskrat went too long without air, he is dead." A song of mourning and praise was heard across the water as muskrat's spirit passed on to the spirit world. Suddenly Nanaboozhoo exclaimed, "Look, there is something in his paw!" Nanaboozhoo carefully opened the tiny paw. All the animals gathered close to see what was held so tightly there. Muskrat's paw opened and revealed a small ball of Earth. The animals all shouted with joy. Muskrat sacrificed his life so that life on Earth could begin anew. Nanaboozhoo took the piece of Earth from Muskrat's paw. Just then, the turtle swam forward and said, "Use my back to bear the weight of this piece of Earth. With the help of Kitchi-Manitou, we can make a new Earth." Nanaboozhoo put the piece of Earth on the turtle's back. Suddenly, the wind blew from each of the Four Directions, The tiny piece of Earth on the turtle's back began to grow. It grew and grew and grew until it formed a mi- ni-si', or island in the water. The island grew larger and larger, but still the turtle bore the weight of the Earth on his back. Nanaboozhoo and the animals all sang and danced in a widening circle on the growing island. After a while, the Four Winds ceased to blow and the waters became still. A huge island sat in the middle of the water, and today that island is known as North America. Traditional Indian people, including the Ojibway, hold special reverence for the turtle who sacrificed his life and made life possible for the Earth's second people. To this day, the muskrat has been given a good life. No matter that marshes have been drained and their homes destroyed in the name of progress, the muskrat continues to survive and multiply. The muskrats do their part today in remembering the great flood; they build their homes in the shape of the little ball of Earth and the island that was formed from it.

Teri Angel is a Happiness Coach, energy healer, best-selling author, spiritual teacher and mentor, and a motivational speaker. Teri is an International Peace Ambassador and the founder of a nonprofit organization, Angelspeakers Inc., which offers educational workshops and events centered around environmental awareness to include animals and nature, peace advocacy opportunities and ancient wisdom teachings. Teri’s movement “Peas For Peace” involves strengthening our awareness of the oneness of all, unifying mankind through compassion, peace, love and joy. She was named "She Who Blesses the Sacred Land" during the Peace On Earth Tour and embraces that title with loving grace.  www.angelspeakers.com

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