SNAKEBIT

SNAKEBIT

In disappointment and despair I recoiled at the sight of an eight-year-old being snakebit, at such a young, tender age.  All those around him, who love him dearly, had warned, often, of the danger of snakes.  But, either a wicked playmate, or forces unseen, had lured him to the snake hole.  I did not see the attack; I only saw the fang marks. 

I looked away in disbelief.  I did not want to alarm the child any more than he was already agitated.  But, when I picked up the I-pad, to play Hearts, he ran toward me, stopped, then retreated.  He had left up the Yahoo search for “NECKID LADYS” – but, I quickly hit the “off-button” and tossed aside the device.  Then, I turned off my wi-fi router for the rest of his visit.  I had guarded his dignity and halted his descent.

A life-long battle has begun for the little fellow.  It sometimes seems as if the whole world is drowning in venom?!  At the very least, this world has become a snake pit.  It is difficult to move without stepping on some viper.  Far too many even worship the Snake?!  We all need a good dose of herpe-phobia?!  Such snakes should be killed.

Thank the Lord above that there is anti-venom.  As Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, so has the Son of Man been lifted up, that all who focus on Him might live!  A mortal wound has been inflicted in the venomous head.  But, I once saw a timber rattler, missing the top of his head from a shotgun blast, still strike at a curious child who picked up, by the tail, the dying snake carcass?!  A wounded animal can be the most dangerous.

So, what is to be done?  Snake-boots?  Snake repellent?  Snake hunts?  Some villagers, before the harvest, burn the cane fields to run out the rats and snakes?!  At the very least, a cautious eye is mandatory.  And, stay out of the high grass?  May God bless our sons and daughters, protecting them from the Snake!

Maybe, St. Patrick’s “Breastplate” would be appropriate as a closing thought?

…

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

…

ANGELIC ANGST

ANGELIC ANGST

 

                I am really not sure why I do myself this way.  Heart-ache and anguish is all I get from watching – no joy, or seldom, if ever.  There were times when we acted like they act over a football game.  Now we watch reluctantly, and are often repulsed.

 

                How did they lose their way?  How have they gotten so far off?  Their Guiding Star has not really faded or dimmed.  But, they follow some North Star to a cold, barren wasteland; or, they go chasing after a Southern Cross into the hopeless tumults of the deep’s chaos.  What is their problem?

                There have been hearts and voices among them that were prophets and poets.  The word was clear and the muse was strong.  But, they repeatedly have chosen those who pander and pervert.  They have witty pundits who are witless and they have politicos leading them into Hell.  They seem to have no ability to discern the difference – why?!

                And, they have voracious cravings that are never satisfied.  They go from one noxious venom to the next!  But, there is no appreciation for the holy.  There is no appetite for the sacred.  They are glutted on the mundane and profane.

                Maybe there’s hope for the little ones?  There is so much promise and potential!  But, they are ruining them.  Maybe they cannot help but distort them into their twisted psyches with dark hearts and empty souls?  I hurt for the little ones!

                He said that they were made “a little lower” than us?  They are so far beneath us!  There was a time, but no longer, when they thrilled us with their aspirations.  No longer.  We watch them.  We guard them.  We fight back the dark rebels.  (sigh)  They have no idea!  God, have mercy on them, please!

                I have to get my head back on straight!  I must go back to the throne room.  I can hear them singing!  My brothers uncontrollably chanting, “hallelujah, hallelujah…”  “holy, holy, holy…”

HH lifestyles

HH lifestyles

                On the sole of my resting co-worker’s safety boot is the logo, “HH”.  Doing spins on the mental “parallel bars” I hear these – “Hugh Hefner” or “Howard Hughes” or … (need a good one contrasting these two…) “Holy Hallelujah’rs” (alliteration too forced?!)  But, these three HH’s represent three lifestyles:  two popular,  one nobler.

                The first HH, Hefner, is an icon, albeit infamous, in our culture.  (the Muslims like to call it “decadent”; but, while not wrong, they are no better)  Sex sells – cars, hamburgers … watched any Hardee’s commercial lately.  And then there are the Viagra and Cialis commercials pitching to demographics worth the cost.  Old Hugh may think that he has taken enough of these that the casket lid may be trouble to close; but, even he will “go the way of all the earth”.  And, he will stand before God, and kneel before the Christ.  May God have mercy on him.  Porn addiction is epidemic.  Though Jesus warns us, far too many are “looking”  (Mt.5:28)  Sad, hollow eyes look out of the faces of many a desperate, merchandised daughter.  HH#1 is not the way, unless your goal is a hot hell. (Heb,13:4)

                The second HH, Howard Hughes, is synonymous with wealth, financial success, money, the “almighty dollar” -- our American god!  Jesus, the poor carpenter/preacher, who died with only the shirt on his back (gambled away by his executioners) warns that one CANNOT love God and love money.  (Mt.6:24)  Paul warns that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. (1Tim.6:10)  Judas, walked with the Lord, but had his “hand in the bag”(Jn.12:6) and sold the Savior for thirty pieces of silver.  (Mt.26:15)  How did he get there?!  I do not want to go there.  Fools die with full barns.  (Lk.12:16)

                The third HH, the “Holy Hallelujah’r” is difficult to alliterate and, moreso, to imitate!  But, make no mistake, the other two are false, lies, deceptions.  Praising Him and personal holiness is the way.  He washes us, whiter than snow!  We rise up and sing with the “heavenly host” (another HH?!) “… holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty…”

HOT TUB DEATH

HOT TUB DEATH

Help!  I need get some direction, and to make confession – while traveling recently, I stopped at a nice motel.  I checked in, unpacked, and went to the hotel spa.  The next morning, I ate my complimentary breakfast, and left with a second refill on my morning coffee.

          Now, back to the spa – there were a couple of hot tubs and adjoining saunas.  In the occupied tub were two, hot blondes, deep into each other and relaxed to the point of being asleep, seemingly.  I walked over to the empty tub, trying not to gawk in their direction, and dropped my bathrobe before stepping into the warm water.  But, the water was not warm!  It felt like it was 150 degrees, at least.  I retreated to my robe, and quietly exited.

Now the hard part – I heard on the news that two girls were found in that same hotel, dead in the spa, overcome with heat exhaustion.  What should I have done?!  When I put my foot in that water, I wondered how in the world they could not think that it was too hot.  Maybe they just sat there and got used to it?  But, it evidently sapped the life out of them.  They were smiling, and sipping something, and, they were nearly sauced.  Should I have said something?

NOT.  Just a retelling of the old frog-in-the-pot story.  Who among us would not, at the very least, call out to the two dopes and see if they would respond?  And, if not, then anyone would call 911 and/or hotel security.

I can remember when TV couples, such as Ward and June, the Cleavers, had separate, twin beds; and they wore pj’s and robes.  The “new normal” for “partners” is a single mother, with two male-lovers (read - homo’s) for the father (sperm donors) of her child?!  And, we watch such?!  Our grandparents would have boycotted the network, at best.  At worst, they would have acted like today’s liberal left.  Us, enlightened, 21^st-century moderns?  Somewhere between “don’t ask, don’t tell” and “that’s not for me, but …”

Where are we going?  IMHO, we are on the highway to Hell.  To quote the messianic prophet, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”  (Isa.5:20)  Can you say, “rationalize, justify, excuse, compromise, conform …”?  Whatever happened to “choose, stand, separate …”, and “reprove, rebuke, admonish …”?

The temp is rising; and, that is the “global warming” that really should be so alarming.

CUT IT OFF

CUT IT OFF

“… if thy hand offend thee, cut it off …”

(but, another little voice teases, ...)

No, play with the offense…

No, rationalize the offense …

No, postpone the offense …

No, excuse the offense …

No, hide the offense …

No, minimize the offense …

No, rename the offense …

No, compare the offense …

No, laugh at the offense …

No, ignore the offense …

“NO.” (whispers a soft, but certain, voice, from somewhere)