“A dear friend of mine who was quite a lover of the chase, told me the following story: ‘Rising early one morning,’ he said, ‘I heard the baying of a score of deerhounds in pursuit of their quarry. Looking away to a broad, open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across, and giving signs, moreover, that its race was well-nigh run. Reaching the rails of the enclosure, it leaped over and crouched within ten feet from where I stood. A moment later two of the hounds came over, when the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and, swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. I felt, just then, that all the dogs in the West could not, and should not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength.’ So is it, when human helplessness appeals to Almighty God. Well do I remember when the hounds of sin were after my soul, until, at last, I ran into the arms of Almighty God.”

A. C. Dixon.

A couple of days ago, a friend reminded me that I had shared this story with him. He and I and a friend of his discussed the story and its implications for the Christian.

I decided to paste it in a new post and write about it (I’m glad my former neighbor convinced me to maintain a wiki for personal use, because I quickly found the quote just where I had stored it).

This quote by A.C. Dixon serves as an impetus for me. It encourages, even drives me, to pray. When my comprehension of God’s character brings me to the realization that He is to me just like this man was to the breathless fawn, I am humbled before Him, and led to pour my heart out to him in times of trouble as well as in times of relative tranquility. If the God of the universe waits for me to run to Him and confess that I need Him desperately to save me from all adversity (and I believe that He does wait ever patiently for me), then my only acceptable response is to run to Him and cast all my need at His feet.

I must say that I don’t display the appropriate response as often as I should. How untapped do I leave His resources! The riches of His grace are there, like an artesian well capped on the top. I only need to bow in prayer to remove the cap, and let flow such a flood that I would not be able to contain it.

May I be stirred up more and more to run to Him by thoughts such as the one at the head of this post.

Happy birthday to my lovely bride of almost 20 years! I am so thankful for you, my love. I am glad God put us together and blessed us with such bliss. My prayer is that you have a marvelously magnificent day full of zephyrs of kindness directed towards you. I pray that the kind words received from others would serve to galvanize your faith. Feel free to jettison your fears about getting old. There should be nothing lachrymose about today. Keep up your sanguine and ebullient outlook. Sure, you can look back on days of yore. There are wonderful memories awaiting, though, perhaps somewhat nebulous. I trust, though, you will spend this day with your usual panache. May there be absolutely no debacles in your path.

Love,

Your usually laconic husband.

Who invented crab soccer? Have you ever pondered this question? It struck me yesterday as I was remembering this game.

As the title indicates, we found something under our deck. Before I tell you what it was, I want to point something out. My title is a lot like a recent title used by my lovely bride. I could not be outdone, I suppose.

Unfortunately, my post is not about meeting a TV star or anything like that. It also is not about something nice. It’s pretty negative, in fact. So on with the show.

Today, a couple of my children informed me that they had discovered a couple of snake skins in a crevice between our house and our deck. Before inspecting the situation, I recalled that I had recently stumbled upon a molted snake skin IN our garage. Maybe I’m screaming, maybe I’m not. My wife certainly is. Can you hear her?

So, upon hearing of other evidences of reptilian friends lurking near our abode, I decided to retrieve the skins for inspection. I used a croquet stick to leverage the skins out of their resting place beneath the deck. There was nothing premeditated about that. I saw the croquet stick nearby, and used it. That was all.

I spread out the skins side by side on a table. It was an outside table that I will wash before I ask you to eat with us on the deck that happens to be snake-infested. Let me tell you something. It was a surprise to find two snake skins under my deck. It was an even larger surprise to find that one skin measured three feet, while the other measured four.

My wife happened to be at the library at the time of discovery, and the children who found the skins were nearly at bursting point to tell Momma when she made it home. I don’t need to describe for you the reaction. I really don’t. You have been around her when snakes or spiders are even mentioned. Everything you’ve seen her do before was done again. It’s the “critter dance”.

We immediately endeavored to find the answer to our burning question. “What question would that be?” you ask. It was something in the neighborhood of, “What kind of snakes are they?” or “Are they poisonous?” The latter was the most fiery question of the day, I must admit.

Back and Belly

After scouring the internet, we learned that most snake skins exceeding three feet used to be the clothing for VENOMOUS snakes (specifically rattlers). We also learned that there are exceptions. We were glad for those. One exception is that there are usually two rows of scales at the tip of the tail on the underside of non-venomous snakes. This was true of the ones we found.

Whew! Momma is now happier, and that makes me happy. I use the word happier. She is not delighted. Just happier.

Two Rows

I have thought of  many things today regarding snakes, but one rises to the surface. I am intrigued with the stigma that surrounds snakes. Such a small creature sends most of us running. I can’t help but let my mind go back to the first time a snake became a problem. It was in a beautiful garden, and the snake was Satan, the adversary. He used the form of a serpent to bring on the fall of man, and he inadvertently allowed for such a pouring out of blessing on mankind that never would have been possible had man not fallen.

I’m referring to what God prophesied in that very garden. He foretold that the seed of the woman would one day put the serpent in his place, and that things would be made right. Of course Adam had no idea what all this would mean, but we do.

God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, would many years later take sinful Man’s place on a hill outside of Jerusalem. There He would be fastened to a tree and take the place of the curse. And there He would die. I am thankful the story has a happier ending than our story today. He died, but rose to life on the third day. Those who believe this have life now, and the promise of no condemnation. This really is good news!

New Decor

I know you will call me weird, but it’s ok. I think it’s the truth. I decided to garnish our deck with the new discovery.

Aren’t children wonderful little machines who seem to endlessly produce profound statements? Consider the following:

If you don’t have anything to say, don’t say it.

It was one I almost missed, since it was so close to the intended saying we often use to redirect “ugly” remarks or negativism. I thank my youngest son, Bradley, for that one.

Amazingly enough, he also provided another very amusing one-liner just the other day. I had mentioned that one of the schools in the district where I work had been evacuated temporarily due to a strong odor (we found out later that it was some kind of chlorine leak).

After hearing me mention the evacuation, he sort of smirked and questioned, “They had to leave because of a strong ogre?” We all laughed. I was impressed with his quick ability to shift gears and shift around the original statement. I have a pretty funny picture in my head now of a bunch of school-children running for their lives. Thanks to the little ones for the funny comments.

…lies a funny man.

We had a great time recently during a routine visit to MCD. For the first time in a long time, we sighted a living, breathing, and extremely entertaining Ronald (not that I make it my life-goal to search for a Ronald or anything like that). He was full of fairly clever jokes, and made use of the effect that comes from embarrassing people. Clown power is quite amazing.

My favorite memory deals with Ronald’s time spent behind the counter. He walked past the associates at the registers, and began turning the menu from “dinner” to “breakfast” and then stopped the menus at the in-between place, so that no menu could be seen. Only eye-pain resulted as the lights that usually illuminate the menu now had free reign. Ronald simply asked the customers waiting for their food if they like the new lights behind the menu.

This is the kind of Ronald that we all need to witness every once in a while. The kind that thinks outside the box, and bothers people. He was obviously not the kind of guy that dresses in a clown suit, and fully depends on the fact that he is dressed in a clown suit. You know the kind. He stands there waving at the little kids – and that’s all.

This was the kind of guy that uses the fact that he is dressed like a clown to do things that would get the average Roberto discharged from the establishment.

Bravo to Ronald for restoring dignity to all those who wear clown suits.

If I had not been in the seat next to her, I would not have believed it. My daughter is now driving; the one I rocked, and sang to, and tickled, and with whom I enjoyed many tea parties, has taken yet another step toward independence. I have to ask again, “Is it true?”

And so it is. The picture proves it all.

I know I sound like my parents or my grandparents when I ask, “How is this possible?”  Various family members and friends have warned me about the fleeting moments, and that this day would be here in a snap. So here it is. Right before my eyes, my little one is no longer little.

While this is a sampling of an imminent greater sadness – a sadness that will come when she takes that final step away from the protection and warmth of the arms of her mother and her father, I have also been filled with a magnificent and overwhelming revelation of pride.

I do not speak of the pride a painter has when he has labored to complete the masterpiece. Nor do I point to the pride a sailor feels when he has rushed his ship headlong into a squall, and emerged from its clutches with his life and his ship. The pride I feel is different. I think it is the pride that a mother duck must feel when she sees a new desire in the eyes of her duckling; it is the desire for independence.

I sit in the passenger seat now as the father duck, proud as can be of a duckling taking her step away. I thank my God for this adventure through which he has led me, and continues to lead me. He promises never to leave nor forsake. For this, I praise His wonderful Name.

There is much to be gained or lost from a moment of regression. Among old friends or with family, innocent regression can often transport us to a time of wonderful memories. On the other hand…whether in spiritual, emotional, or financial terms, regression usually spells disaster.

The regression of which I write is centered upon the former – the good kind. And the moment of which I write takes me back to a moment that I never had the privilege of knowing. How’s this possible? I’m not really sure, to tell you the truth, but I know I witnessed it. Somehow, I was allowed to look into a window from the past. I was given the treat of peering into my wife’s childhood, when she transformed into an eight-year-old before my very eyes. And what a treat it was.

We were at Costco for our monthly shopping trip. We decided to look down the furniture aisle. And there it happened. She spotted a table that had eight chairs – the number that happens to correspond exactly to the number of people in our family.

I suppose it was just one of those moments when one is carried away with emotion, and one lets down one’s guard, and allows oneself to say whatever is on one’s mind. Are you with me? Anyway…there we were – IN THE MIDDLE OF COSTCO – and my lovely wife was carried away with emotion, and let down her guard, and said whatever happened to be on her mind.

So excited was she at the sight of the table and chairs, that she said, “Honey, do you suppose we could purchase this table and chairs?” Well, this is not really what she said at this moment. This is what most people would say. And those of you who are reading this most likely know that my wife has probably never fit into the “most people” category. I can’t ever think of a time. Onward.

So she said, “Mommy, Daddy, look, eight chairs!”

This is no lie. IN THE MIDDLE OF COSTCO, with the world looking on, and wondering where “Mommy and Daddy” are, she gave her whole family that sweet look into her past. However strange and awkward it was, I would not trade that moment for anything. And I would not trade her either. She’s my tender, little girl. And I love her.

Had an interview

Should know in a couple days

Praying and waiting

Hanging on that tree

His tree it is, and the curse

Great mystery, this