Boundaries

Living on a homestead with chickens and goats provides endless opportunities for adventure and a good laugh.  Whether it’s something the goats do or perhaps what predicament you find yourself in, there’s always entertainment to say the least.  Along with certain situations comes the opportunity to see the bigger picture.  For instance, something as simple as a fence can have much greater meaning when seen in light of our lives and the need for boundaries.

Boundaries don’t always get a good rap.  They are seen as limiting.  It may feel as though one is confined within certain boundaries but it doesn’t have to be that way.  In the case of our animals, boundaries are what help keep them safe.  If the chickens fly over the fence they have two very different options.  On one side they may find freedom and adventure scavenging for food with the goats, but they are also away from their flock and more vulnerable to being attacked by hawks.  If they fly over the other fence they find themselves in the jaws of a very playful and much loved dog that can’t help but let her instincts take over.  It never ends well in this case.

You see, these fences or boundaries are meant to protect the chickens.  They can have a full and happy life if they remain within the fence (except when the hawk decides to swoop down from above).  I believe God feels the same way with the boundaries He has set for us as Christians.  When we are truly seeking to live the life He has for us, we are blessed beyond measure.  That doesn’t mean Satan won’t still attack from other angles (just as the hawk does).  However, boundaries are a blessing.

We can also see God with us even if we find ourselves on the other side.  Maybe something lured you over or it may have been a reaction of fear.  Our dog sometimes scares the chickens with a sneak attack and pounces so quickly that they fly over in an attempt to get away.  Then they are stuck in the goat pen.  (They really aren’t too smart because they can never figure out how to fly back over.)  This is when the adventure comes in and I get to try to catch them.  And just like the chicken, we sometimes run from the very one that is trying to rescue us.  Run fast I might add.  Then when we get back where God intended us to be, we can again thrive on the things that feed us.  The chickens have access to their food and water just as we have access to God’s word and prayer.  

My Take-Aways:

1. God has a plan for you.  Don’t run from it.  Embrace the life He wants to so freely give to you.
2. Sometimes it takes teamwork.  Just as it took the help of my kids (and the goats) to coral the rooster so I could catch it and return it to its yard, God uses the people in our lives to guide and direct us.  Find a mentor…someone you look up to or who has been through similar circumstances…to help you through the challenging times.
3. If you have a friend or family member who is living outside certain boundaries, don’t be afraid to step out and boldly try to “catch” them and help them back.  You may appear a little crazy in the moment (like I felt chasing a rooster with a pool net) but the end result is worth it!