Not only was I running on only three hours of sleep yesterday, I had a headache and had to go to the dentist after work. Not a great combination.
Halfway to my dentist’s office I noticed a grasshopper on the hood of my car, not far from the windshield. The first thought that ran through my mind was Bug! The second was He’s going to come through my window! I do not like bugs of any kind, but as I drove I started to worry that the wind was going to pry him off of my car and fling him to a horrible death.
I was never driving over 35 mph, but I could see that he was holding on with every ounce of strength he had. I realized that I had a lot in common with this grasshopper, especially as of late. I’ve been holding on for dear life to get through my job every day, and holding on with every ounce of strength I have to get through rough spots in my marriage.
Whenever I would end up at a stoplight I would watch the grasshopper to see if he felt safe enough to jump off of the car, but he never did. He stayed there until I parked my car at the dentist’s office. I could see every intricate detail of his body and was reminded that not only was I created by God, but so was this grasshopper.
As the dentist cleaned my teeth and talked about her sister’s farm, her sister’s dogs, and the Chicago Bears, all I could think about was that grasshopper. Not once during his ride on top of my car did he ever give up the fight. His tiny antennae were being whipped in the wind but he still held on. I thought about the struggles I’ve been having lately and how there are days I just want to give up. But I don’t. I know that God has a plan for me and I’m looking forward to it, whatever it is.
Going back to my car after the appointment I was stunned to see the grasshopper still sitting there. He never moved. I thought maybe he had died so I gently poked him with my key and he began to crawl toward the front of the car. I contemplated whether or not I should stick him in my lunchbox to keep him safe until I got home but I decided against it. He ended up being a tiny hood ornament for my drive home but then he disappeared.
I stopped to pick up dinner and saw that the grasshopper was still on my car, just further down so I couldn’t see him. I promised that if he was still on my car when I got home I would find a safe place for him. Anyone who knows me knows I would never go out of my way to help a bug, but I felt a connection with this grasshopper. I felt I was supposed to take care of him.
As I pulled into the garage that grasshopper was still on the hood of my car, crawling back toward the windshield. I chose the perfect place for him in the backyard where it would be safe, but as I got out of my car, he was gone. I couldn’t find him anywhere. I scoured the garage floor hoping I wouldn’t step on him, but I couldn’t find him.
The grasshopper is indeed safe, somewhere in our garage. It isn’t a very pleasant place to be, but apparently the grasshopper decided he was safe and let go.
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