Sweeter Than Honey

This morning, for the first time in a few weeks, I picked up my kitty Daisy and took her outside for our regular stroll through the garden.  At first her whole body was tense as she tried to twist away from me.  But with each step down the four stairs to the garden she relaxed, and as I walked across the back deck she melted peacefully into my arms.  She loves looking at all the plants and flowers – but most of all she loves seeing all the birds flitting around the bird-feeders.

 Slowly we strolled along the grass and garden paths, observing as many details as we could take in.  I gently spoke to her, pointing out this pretty flower or that little bird; a sweet time together.  

 As we rounded the path at the very back of the garden, my eyes fell on one of my scripture rocks:  “Genesis 3:8  The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden…”  As I read these words I realized that the Lord Himself – today – was walking with me through the garden, cradling me in His arms just as I was doing with Daisy. 

 Oh, how I had missed these quiet everyday strolls with the Lord in the weeks gone by!  I thought about how I, like Daisy, would tensely try to twist away from my Lord’s arms because I had “so much to do” each day.  And as I’d turned back and run into the house on those days, I’d missed out on sweet times of conversation with the Lord that had been meant for just the two of us.  And there is nothing sweeter to me than my times with my Lord and hearing His voice.

 So, with my heart and mind re-set, Daisy and I and the Lord continued our stroll through the garden, resting and relaxing in each other’s arms, listening to His voice, ready to face whatever might come today.

 Psalm 119:103  “How sweet are Your words to my taste,  sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

 Lord, thank You for Your patience as You wait for me to turn my heart and mind toward You.  Thank You for cradling me in Your arms as You walk with me through the garden of this life.  Amen.

DUELING SQUIRRELS

I heard a commotion in the garden a few days ago. Two little squirrels were chasing each other up and down and all around our podocarpus trees. They were so quick! They ran from limb to trunk, trunk to limb, up one side, down the other, leaping and scrambling, making it hard to see who was pursuing and who was pursued. There was definitely a deep dislike between these two squirrels and they weren’t going to settle for peaceful cohabitation. As big as this place is, there just wasn’t enough space for the two of them.

Eventually, one of the squirrels ran off. He probably realized that even if he tried to hang around he wouldn’t be able to eat a leisurely meal. Once he’d gone, the remaining squirrel sat up on a high branch, bark-chattering to himself, most likely because he was upset by what he’d just experienced. It took a while, but soon enough he settled down and got back to business: eating. He now had the garden (and the bird feeders) all to himself.

A bit later I walked through the garden and noticed something out of place: some furry object was in the “fly-through” bird feeder. This wire feeder has big holes in the middle of it for little birds to fly through. But one of the holes was filled with fur…that moved! I approached slowly to take a closer look, when suddenly a furry face peered out of the other side of the feeder. Ah! It was the little squirrel with his body wedged through the hole, his head on one side of the feeder, his tail on the other! When he saw me, he had the most startled, guilty expression on his face, almost as if he’d been caught with his hand (or paw) in the cookie jar! Quickly, he scrambled up the chain that held the feeder, leaped across the branch it was attached to and jumped up high into the upper reaches of the tree to safety. He’d realized he really didn’t have the garden all to himself.

This little scene made me think about the story of Joseph in the Bible. He and his eleven brothers did not get along, mostly because they were jealous of him. Their dad made it clear Joseph was his favorite and his brothers didn’t like that at all. As their jealousy grew they eventually plotted to get rid of him. They probably thought that if Joseph was out of the way they could have their father all to themselves. When the opportunity arose, they chased Joseph down and sold him to slave-traders headed to Egypt. The brothers then lied to their father, leading him to believe Joseph had been killed, thinking their “secret” would be safe forever. But they didn’t realize that God, Who sees and knows everything, saw all that had happened. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. Years later when they were caught in their deception and they met Joseph face to face, they regretted all they’d done. You see, none of us ever has the garden all to ourselves. Good thing, too. Although they intended it for evil, God used it for good.

Lord, help me to never act independently, thinking You won’t see what I’m doing. I don’t want to be caught with my hand in the cookie jar when I see You face to face. Amen

The Skunk

 In our garden I’ve been seeing evidence of varmints, vermin and pests for quite a while.  In late spring/early summer we saw little holes in nearly every planting bed we have.  Research led us to believe we were seeing signs of a skunk digging to find grubs. (Grubs are the chubby white larvae of those big green flying Japanese beetles.)  Skunks LOVE grubs. 

 At first I was glad that skunks were eating the grubs, since grubs eat the roots of grass and plants, many times causing them to die.  Plus, grubs are really ugly.  So I reasoned that as long as we could move wide-away if we came upon a skunk, things would be fine.  But when the skunk started digging up my vegetable garden I got irritated.  And when the skunk ate my first ripe tomato the night before I was going to harvest and eat it myself, I decided then and there something needed to be done to rid our gardens of skunks!  When he ate my second nearly-ripe tomato, that was it!   The skunk had to go!

 So Keith set a trap with a small dish of cat food in it as bait.  The first night we just knew we’d catch the skunk and would take him to a wilderness area to be released.   In eager anticipation Keith got up the next morning and found…a big ol’ possum.  Phooey!  It seems possums like cat food, too.  We’ve peacefully coexisted with possums for a long time, so Keith opened the trap and let him go.

 That night Keith set the trap a second time and awoke early the next morning, prepared to take our resident skunk to his new home.  As he approached the trap he found…a neighborhood cat!  Dang!  We’d need to do this again!  So the following night, as before,  he set the trap, believing full well the skunk would be in there soon enough.  But all he caught was another cat.  Sheesh!  

 We knew the skunk was still around because more and more holes were being dug and our neighbor’s dog was barking each night around 2-2:30.  So Keith waited a few more days before setting the trap again. This time he decided to set it out a bit later than before. 

 The next morning as he was leaving for work he realized he’d forgotten to check the trap.  He was short on time, but knew he needed to take a look – just in case.  So he went to the veggie garden to see what was there.  And there in his trap was a nice little skunk – probably a teenager!

 Nervously he picked up the cage-trap, covered it with a blanket, put it in his van and headed out.  He arrived at his chosen wilderness area, set the trap down and opened the door to set the skunk free.  The little guy headed out, but stepped on the plate that snapped the door shut again with a clang!  Nervously, Keith approached the cage a second time and opened the door.  Again, the skunk began his exit only to once again step on the plate that snapped the door shut!  Oh dear.  He didn’t seem very happy! 

 Keith, realizing he needed to get to work, approached the cage again, but this time opened it and tipped it so the skunk HAD to get out!  That did NOT make the skunk happy at all!  As he exited the trap he lifted his tail and let loose with the infamous spray that lets everyone in a square mile know a skunk has been there!  Keith dodged most of the odiferous stream coming from the skunk but ended up with a couple of drops on his shirt and hands.  Pleased with himself, the skunk quickly waddled away, leaving Keith in the fumes. 

 Mission accomplished Keith grabbed the trap, put it back in his van and headed for the office.  Once there, he went straight to the restroom to wash the intense smell from his hands – unsuccessfully.  As people arrived at work they gasped and exclaimed, “What happened!?  What is that horrible smell?” 

 It took most of the day for the pungent odor to filter out of the office once Keith left.  He came home, threw his shirt into the trash and washed himself with the proven skunk-odor-eliminator:  a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a touch of liquid hand soap. Finally he could get to work and do what he was being paid to do! 

 A few days later we saw evidence that there was another skunk feasting in our garden.  But he moved on without our having to get involved.  Guess he didn’t want to put up a stink!

 

 All during this time I was more than busy with many areas of responsibility at church, preparing to lead music at two camps and all the usual garden, home and family chores.   Unfortunately, I’ve found that when I’m under a lot of stress I often don’t handle it well, even though the Lord has proven that He’s at my side wanting to help me – if I’ll let Him.  I don’t intend to get anxious or freak out, but little by little as I allow one thought after another to stay in my mind, like “There’s so much to do and it’s all on MY shoulders”, I end up there: anxious and freaked out.  I’ve learned that kind of thinking isn’t productive and even makes things worse.   It’s what I call “stinkin’ thinkin’” and when I fall back into those old thought patterns I need to get rid of them. I don’t want to coexist with a varmint that can make everything and everyone around me steer clear for fear of noxious spray! 

 How do I get rid of those thoughts?  I first have to see the evidence that they’re there, seeing the little skunk holes that are being dug into the peace I have in the Lord.  Once I recognize them I don’t try to handle them on my own, I go to the Lord in repentance and confession, asking Him to help me set the right traps. I open His word to transform and renew my mind and focus my thoughts on His truth.  I take more time to pray through the details of the work to be done, asking Him to help me remember He’s in control – not me.  And I go to trusted friends and ask them to pray with me and hold me accountable.  

 I love Isaiah 40:25-31.

“‘To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal’ says the Holy One.  Lift your eyes and look to the heavens; Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.  Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?’  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  

 My Lord, everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth: thank you for seeing and knowing all of these things about me, but loving me in spite of my stinkin’ thinkin’.  I ask you again, help me get rid of those smelly thoughts that have found a stronghold in my mind.  Only you know how to set the trap that will remove them safely and prevent me from getting skunked.  Thank you for those who will come alongside and help me get it right.  Amen.