 |
| Moonstones from a famous beach |
“What’s that?” I asked my husband and son.
“It’s the squirrel, mom,” my son answered, opening the lid of the camera he was holding, as my husband turned on the video camera, its black straps dangling from his neck.
“Ohhh… Why does it keep coming closer?” I asked as my right hand froze and so was the rest of my body.
 |
| The Killer Squirrel |
I had faced hundreds of murderers, rapists, and so many other criminals where I work. But a tiny creature? It would only take a tiny creature not even bigger than my feet to scare me?
“Shooo! Shooo!” I loudly warned for it to stop being curious with the human beings that were just trying to relax on such a beautiful day.
“Mom!” my son warned louder as my husband’s voice also joined his. “Stop it! So we can take a picture!”
I suddenly thought how these squirrels coming from nowhere must be so used with human’s presence, being fed by others as they ran in commotion to check out what food could be thrown at them and that was why this particular one was not afraid of us.
But please…. Not me…
“Daddy,” I whispered to my husband… “Will it be okay for me to throw these moonstones near him just to scare him?”
Next thing I knew, two of my loved ones were busting, laughing at this afraid being who was ready to let go of little moonstones from her right hand as if they were ammo’s.
“Stop it!” my husband uttered. “Just stop being afraid!”
“Why wouldn’t I be afraid? You guys keep calling him but he keeps looking toward me. And why does he stare at me as if I’m food?”
The more laughter ensued, with intensity of roaring thunders heard on that spot where the surrounding areas were marked with yellow ribbons to prevent humans from touching the preserved area.
“What was that?” my son asked my husband when he was aiming his camera toward the squirrel. He got surprised when a tan-colored sweat shirt dropped on the ground.
“That’s my sweatshirt!” I replied.
The killer squirrel was not harmed. I just kept walking fast, double the pace I usually did. My son was not able to take a picture as he kept laughing, standing still behind me as the gap between us widened. My husband stayed with my son and I wasn’t sure if he was able to film the whole thing but at that point, I truly didn’t care but to keep going fast toward our car and preserve my God-given life.
(You’re reading this post….so you know I’m okay! Thank You Lord!)
Panting in the car as I took a gulp of cold water, I just realized that in reality, the squirrel was not my enemy. It was my fear. And so it is with our spiritual battles. If we know we are on God’s side, we should not be afraid of our spiritual enemies. It is our faith that conquers “fear of anything.” Fear is the enemy’s tool that robs ourselves from having joy or peace. Fear is the tool that distorts our decision-making that keeps us away from walking on the narrow path of life. But faith? It is God’s tool that helps us realize that God will always come through for us, no matter what we are facing: whether we are going through the severest storms of life or even facing a “tiny squirrel” like the one I encountered.
Yes...Even up to the point of facing death...
“35As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” – Mark 4:35-40 (NLT)
