Composition 5: A Turtle's Tale

Life can be compared to lots of ideas, but only a few truly tell existence's tale. Turtles, like people, want to be comfortable in their habitat, but usually surroundings can change quite a bit. Painted Turtles live comfortably in quiet and shallow bodies of water, because the reptiles feel safe inside these areas. Comfort zones are usually people's quiet and shallow places. People quietly stay in normal schedule, because all we know is our routine. For instance, all people have a routine, which the person follows each day. These schedules usually consist of waking each morning, going to work or school, then returning home in the evening. When we fully step out of our comfort zone humans feel uncomfortable about new surroundings, because people don't know what their job is. Humans are observantly expert creatures of habit like turtles. For example, our classroom pet turtle, Harry, has the same agenda each day; swim, eat, and, sleep. God usually calls us to do assignments for Him, which are out of our comfort zones, such as missionary work or moving to a new place and starting all over again. Whatever the situations may be we, as Christians, can knowingly trusts God understands what He is doing and sees how the experience will help His eternal kingdom to grow. Jeremiah 29: 11 says,

"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

However, people aren't made to live in two worlds like turtles; we were made for truth. Painted turtles live silently on land as to find green plants to eat, because vegetation is a part of their diet. Painted turtles halfly live in the water, because fish are another source of natural food for the reptilian creatures. People can live in two worlds exactly like Mei, in essence, land and water, opposite worlds. Various persons want to please others, and keep everyone wonderfully happy, because the people don't want differences to induce fights. By living in two worlds, however, two-faced persons evolve from those people, actually beginning more confusion. For instance, by having friends in two parties, a person may accidentally tell important secrets to the other group, beginning hurtful strife between bodies. God wants us to continuously work on pleasing Him, the Almighty, instead of satisfying men. For example, if a person does a wrong act due fully to peer pressure, then he/she is more about his/her earthly friends and appearance than God. We, as Christians, should only care about what God thinks, never about what man does. Revelation 3:16 says,

"So because you are lukewarm- neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

In the Bible verse of Revelation 3:16, hot can be interpreted as godly and cold may be worldly. Try putting those words in, giving godly and worldly the places of hot and cold. Gives a new perspective, and meaning to the verse.

Therefore, all qualities of a turtle: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, can relate to people in our world. Painted turtles are named for their patterns on the underside of all shells belonging to the species. The wonderful colors, which truly create the patterns on the painted turtles, remind me of people's personalities. For instance, lots of nationalities are in America, and together the people naturally form a beautiful picture. A glorious picture of how life greatly is. When Mei feels threatened the turtle will hiss defensively, much the same reaction quite a few persons have with various races of people. For example, during the time after 9-11 people have taken actions against the Muslims. Lots of Americans decided Muslims were the reason for the World Trade Center attacks. The observantly colorful turtle might taste meaty. Meaty is a word to thoroughly describe all gossip. When Gossip goes continuously around, we try to keep ourselves looking classy. People don't want a label, but aren't these the same ideals which we do to others. The turtle's shell is smooth, and has wonderfully pretty colors. From my point of view, we should coincide with each other, smoothly, peacefully, because these are what God wants. We should love all as we would a brother. The foul smell of a turtle is terribly unappealing by my standards, like how God is disappointed with us when His children disobey commands given to us by him. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says,

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So is it with Christ."

Nevertheless, basking is a comforting act, but people shouldn't forget God in the process. Painted turtles enjoy continuously basking in the sun, b because reptiles can't control their body temperature. The sun can be likened to comforting thoughts. When basking people seem to naturally forget their useless worries. People are weirdly comforted by the act of lying in warm light. We always try to silently forget our contagious problems and worries. For example, when people are anywhere, but work, all is trying to forget how stressful earning money is. Lots of annoying problems are fine to forget, but in the process we usually ignore God. When in the process of forgetting responsibilities, don't we ignore our promises to God. He doesn't want us to ignore Him, but as long days pass we veer closely towards forgetting God. For instance, after a few months of continuous devotions, people begin to slack off in their studies. The devotions become a chore, when studies should be times of intimate devotions with God. Revelation 2: 4-5 says,

"Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love. Remember from the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place."

Jesus was apparently unhappy about what these Ephesian people had done. God wants all people to thoroughly remember Him for who He is. He is completely, the Almighty God.

Obviously, burrowing is basically hiding, but we can, "swim under ice" like turtles. The painted turtle can expertly swim under frozen ice during winter but usually these reptiles burrow in warm mud. Burrowing is a cold season habit for turtles, because the species needs to be continually warm during the winter. In relating the turtle's habit to our own lives, burrowing is quite like digging a deep hole. People usually dig a hole when we don't want to face life problems during our existence. For instance, students usually procrastinate on big projects, because the assignment is a huge, "problem." Students observantly see homework as a harsh punishment, therefore an awful problem. Still all people have the incredible ability to, "swim under ice," like turtles. "Swimming under ice," is my strange interpretation of the phrase, coming through hardships. People are fully capable of solving hard problems. For example, when students have a hard assignment (i.e. compositions ;) we usually turn the homework in, completed, but with few questions nonetheless. The common outcome of a bad situation is people silently ignore problems, waiting until a small hardship becomes huge. Choosing to fully ignore the awful situation is a way of making the problem bigger, and apparently humans haven't learned their lesson yet. For instance, when students forget their big projects, assignments become overwhelming and seem impossible. God tells Christians to help all people in need, and don't ignore them even if the person is an enemy. Romans 12: 20 says,

"On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him if he is thirsty; give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head."

We're supposed to carefully help all people, doesn't matter what.

Still, turtles like people want a comfortable habitat, but usually surroundings can change quite a bit. People aren't made to naturally live in two worlds, unlike turtles; we were made for the truth. All qualities of a painted turtle: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell; can weirdly relate to people in our world. Basking in warm light is a wonderfully comforting act, but people shouldn't forget God in the process. Burrowing, for all humans, is basically hiding, but we can still, "swim under ice," and come through like turtles. Turtles fully relate to life, because of huge differences in both.