Last week I wrote about feeding birds, and in my bulletin the squirrels were the “evil ones.” Some folks objected to that, and I don't blame them. I happen to like squirrels, too. In fact, we feed the squirrels too, their own special food

So I'm going to give squirrels a second chance, "equal time" as it were. There are lots of good lessons we can learn from squirrels, and here's one. When discussing this with Eric today, he pointed out that they are indecisive. They run out in front of you when you drive down the street, and you can't tell what they are going to do. They run back and forth, sometimes off to safety and other times right under your wheels. I always feel bad when I hit one, and I have hit many over the years.

I wouldn't hit them at all if they would show a little more wisdom. Why don't they stay out of my way, stay off the street, and when they do get on the street why don't they seem to see me coming in my red Metro until I am right on top of them? When they do finally grasp I am about to flatten them, why don't squirrels sprint off to safety instead of zipping around all over the highway like clueless wonders?

Are people like that, too? You don't think so? Well, why don't we stay away from sin, and from the trouble it causes? So often we get as close to being in sin as we can, even so far as arrogantly arguing that we have the "right" to do something that others may question us for. Want a specific? Occasionally I hear someone tell me that drinking is ok, but getting drunk is the sin. Hmmmm.... Seems if we never drank at all we would never even get close to being drunk, but those who want to do this push it right to the limit, trying to figure out exactly how many drinks it takes. Huh? And then when they "accidentally" get drunk they may say it was no big deal (well, it was certainly no accident!) Sound farfetched? Well, many people watch R movies, chocked full of nasty language and visuals, with Hollywood morals. Then when they are faced with things in life where they need to decide right from wrong, they are "confused" as to what the right thing is. For instance, is it always wrong to lie? God says yes, Hollywood says no, and sometimes we "think" about it. Why do we "think" about it, when the bible is so clear about it? Because we've gotten to close to the sin, and didn't just avoid it.

So once we're on the street, why don't we see the trouble coming to flatten us out? Because we turn a blind eye to it. Folks think living lawlessly doesn't effect anyone else and don't see the example they are setting for their friends or family. Then when their own children grow up ugly and unruly, then when the trouble is right on top of them do they finally grasp the danger they are in. Ugh.

So why don't people sprint off to safety but instead thrash around like clueless wonders? Because when you live ungodly, you don't dwell on Godly things. I mean, the bible is a nuisance, it picks at your conscience, or it's old-fashioned. But you get in a jam, finally figuring out you're drowning in sin, and life comes at you full throttle. The devil doesn't want you to "recover" and run to safety, he wants you dead. Lots of things that look like daylight, things that look like "wise" solutions to your mess but based on worldly wisdom, flash in front of you. Just like the view a squirrel gets between the tires. So instead of just, literally, turning tail and going back to the safety just left, you blitz around from opinion to opinion hoping for salvation. If you have time, you might figure out the real salvation and make it out of the way. But so often, you don't. You become spiritual road kill.

Remember that the next time you see a flat squirrel twitching on the road. Even these teach us something, about choices we can make. This one made a bad choice. What kind of choices are you going to make?

Randy