I spied the little guy in the early morning light. Sitting there on the skimmer shelf of the pool, with his little nose struggling to stay above the water line, was a field mouse. He looked exhausted, his coat matted together like he’d been trying to get out of the water all night.

Really, the night was probably part of his problem. Things tend to scurry about out here at night. There is no fence or other barrier to stop small animals before they get to the water, and from their vantage point in the darkness, they probably don’t see anything at all until they’re in it. Typically, it turns out to be their last stop. So, while the discovery of floating wildlife was nothing new, the experience of finding a live mouse in the pool was.

Kevin walked out about that time, and upon seeing him there, grabbed the pool net and said, “Buddy, today’s your lucky day.”

He took the end of the net and nudged the mouse off the shelf, back into the water, where he swam like crazy. Then, with one quick scoop, he was freed from the water and pitched back, away (away!) from the house. I saw where he landed and watched him run like the wind, into the woods.

His plight made me think of how often we lose focus and start walking in the darkness, where we can’t really see what traps and dangers lurk ahead. Then, even when we’ve suddenly fallen into a crazy pit, we don’t cry out for help. We struggle and struggle to get out on our own.

The thing is, we’ll die there without help getting out.

It’s the smart mouse who will allow himself to be nudged off of the shelf of perceived safety to attain certain rescue.

It’s the smart person who lets go for the same reason.

Be thankful; there’s help. Today could be your lucky day.

“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.” Psalm 40:2 NASB

“Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone.” Psalm 31:4 NLT

“He led me to a place of safety;he rescued me because he delights in me.” Psalm 18:19 NLT