Little Noah
Little Noah is frightened. The joy of his perfect little world has been disrupted. How can he fix it? Why won't anyone listen to him? Wasn't always like this. In his mind he goes back to when life was simpler.....
Mom and Dad loved him. So did his Grandpa Noah. He was needed back then. Hammers were too heavy and saws too awkward but tape measures were just right. If anything needed measured Pa (Grandpa Noah) came and got him. Pa said he wish I had been there at the beginning of the building. But soon the "ark" (whatever that is) would be finished. Little Noah enjoyed the smell of sawdust and the "music" of the hammer and nails.
The ark was a wonderful place of discovery. With rooms and windows and stairs and decks and look outs and hide outs. Mom always had time to share his world and his adventure before she gained so much weight and was sick most mornings. Now she didn't seem to have as much energy or time for some reason and didn't want to run or go down slides or any of the fun stuff she used to do with him.
Then there was the day the "ark" was finished. Quiet, a very uncomfortable quiet. Many of the sounds and smells and sights Little Noah was familiar with, found comfort in, were gone. But soon came other sounds and sights that were unfamiliar. People laughing at, pointing fingers at or being nervous around or avoiding like something was wrong with you. As much at Little Noah tried to invite others into the ark, his world, no one came in.
One day Pa came to Little Noah and said they needed to talk. Pa said we would soon be moving. Little Noah was sad. He didn't want to leave his little world. Pa said he wouldn't be leaving his world but that his world would change. Little one was confused. Pa saw that, smiled, and asked him if he would like a pet. Oh Yes!!!
Then Pa asked him what animal in all the world would he like to have as a pet. Little one thought of all the different animals he had seen and he thought of those he had heard about. Suddenly he knew what he wanted. "I want them all, Pa!"
Well, first Pa laughed and then tears began to form in his eyes. Little Noah didn't understand. He did not know that GOD had told his Pa in the very early morning hours that day to gather some of each kind of animal into the ark. Pa gave little Noah a big hug and said they needed to get busy getting his pets.
And soon the animal began coming. Little Noah became the "zookeeper". He was as good at fitting each animal into the best place for them as he had been at measuring. And how he loved all his pets. When the last animal arrived the big door, drawbridge was pulled shut and locked into place. Once again life was right, like it was supposed to be.
Then there was a flash of light and a really loud noise. Was this what his Pa had talked about for so many years? Would water really fall from the sky? Then he began to hear a pitter patter on the roof of the ark and the shrieks of terror. Looking out a small window he did see "rain" and the mockers and scoffers running for cover. How long would this last? Pa came by and said we needed to close all the windows and shutters and doors.
In the dim light of candles and lanterns Little Noah spent most of his time with his "friends", his animals. Learning their habits, feeling their texture, somehow understanding how they communicate. So much simpler than humans.
After a few days had passed of incessant pitter patter rain which was so calming on Little Noah he heard the sound of loud knocking and scared voices. Pa and his uncles and aunts stood together at the main door arguing. Pa said we couldn't open the door and let others in. GOD had said so. His uncles said we couldn't not open the door and let them perish. Ignoring Pa his uncles began trying to unlock the main door but it would not budge. Little did they know that the water was already high enough that the water was pressing against the door holding it in place. Soon the knocking and voices stopped.
Little Noah was very sad. Pa saw this and they took a walk among and along with his "friends". Little Noah did not understand why GOD let this happen until his Pa explained.
"If we had let the others in they would soon have begun to kill and eat your pets."
"NO!!!"
"WHY???"
"Little Noah, they do not understand how important each one is and how they fit into GOD's plans."
Little Noah didn't know about GOD's plans but he was so grateful his Pa protected his pets, his friends. He gave his pa a big, long hug.
Yes, his friends were important. As important as emotions. Each different yet close to his heart. He could not stand the thought of losing one of his friends.
Soon after the "move" began. Little Noah's whole world inside the ark was afloat. That was interesting at times, funny at times, sickening at times. Little Noah experienced it all. Sometimes he was comforting his "friends" sometimes they were comforting him. After a week or so everyone got their "sea legs".
One sleepless night Noah snuck down as the grown-ups were sitting around a table talking and drinking "sour" grape juice. Thankfully, they always let him have the "good" grape juice. No one saw him in the shadows.
One of his uncles asked if Little Noah was ever going to be normal. His Pa quickly replied that he was.
"Yeah, okay, but normal like the rest of us?"
"Maybe normal isn't normal, maybe different is normal in the eyes of GOD."
"Dad, why you always gotta bring GOD into things, can we ever have a normal conversation?"
There was a pause as he realized what he just said but too late. The room erupted in laughter. One aunt was laughing so hard tears were rolling down her face. An uncle fell to the floor laughing. Sometimes grown-ups act weird Little Noah thought to himself. Wonder if it has anything to do with the "sour" grape juice?
"Little Noah was designed by GOD for a purpose and a reason. He is not a mistake, he doesn't need to be fixed. He does need to be understood, to be heard, to be given freedom to express himself. Remember how clumsy he was with hammers and saws. But just because he can't do what everyone else on board can doesn't mean he is useless. Anybody else want to feed the lions, tigers, or bears?"
Silence.
"The world we left behind did not have room or a place for Little Noah. My prayer is that each of you will make room and find a place for him in your hearts and lives. Enough, I need to take a walk."
Little Noah knew that meant Pa was going to pray. Little Noah needed to take a walk, too.
The animals all loved story time. They would gather round and listen to Little Noah tell stories that included them. Porky pig, Donald duck, Ninja turle, chicken Little, Bear cat, and many others. His stories were so vivid you could almost see them in front of you. They would sit hours at a time "watching" his stories.
But the story that is being lived out in Little Noah's life at this moment is terrifying. A huge storm is tossing the ark about. Not the soothing rock of waves but forceful pushing hard one way then the next. Little Noah cannot find balance. All the adults are too busy trying to keep everything under control to give him the attention he needs.....
How will this story end? I don't know. Much of that depends on the reader of these words. Is there room in your world for a Little Noah? Do you understand that one day his journey will end and he will come out of the ark? When is between GOD and Little Noah.
Little Noah, I have been in the ark, learned of emotions and how they work, and they now are my friends. It is a beautiful world out there, one day you will see.
.....peace.....
Comments
- -- Posted by bent nail on Sat, Nov 23, 2013, at 11:17 AM
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