Update on the Turtle

We told Jaden he had a choice. He could keep the turtle in the plastic habitat of a swimming pool and potentially see the turtle die or he could let it go in the woods and let it live. He wrestled for a while with what was the right thing to do. He wanted to take responsibility for it. He wanted to feed it and give it water. He wanted to be the one to protect the turtle. But he also knew that by keeping it in the plastic swimming pool that the turtle would probably die.

He was fearful of turning loose. Do we protect at the risk of losing the soul? Do we shelter at the risk of destroying life? Religion keeps people in plastic pools. Religious people use manipulation to convince people that God lives in plastic pools. Some people will spend their lives in plastic pools because someone has told them that is where God is.

Jesus comes along and says, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"(John 8:36). Jaden, my son, one afternoon walks down by himself picks up the turtle and takes it to the edge of the woods. He walks back in the house with tears in his eyes and I ask him where he went. He says, "To let the turtle go so that it may live."