As I see it: Enemy assault

Patty Juliuson dealt with an enemy assault of squirrels (without killing them). Photo from Patty Juliuson.

By Patty Juliuson, Columnist

It has been quite the week. In addition to regular life, we were faced with an enemy assault on our house when we came home from church Sunday evening to find a squirrel in our bedroom. Don’t let their generally sunny dispositions fool you- squirrels have a dark side. Very, very dark…

We understood that something had happened to the balance of power in our relationship. They seemed to think the house was theirs. We began to search and found a cute little sleeping baby squirrel. I knew THEY had the upper hand and could get in whenever THEY wanted.

It all started with a little hole in the soffit of the house. We noticed it awhile back and really did mean to repair it, but once again the tyranny of the urgent left that little job undone. Little did we know the squirrels had made that hole- they were CHEWING on our house- and had decided our attic was their great new condo and a wonderful place to raise their families. Yes, families, plural.

I won’t regale you with the details of our quest, just know that those little buggers are FAST. We didn’t kill anything and, after spending sufficient time and money, I THINK we have regained control of our house. This event has really opened my eyes to some things. I thought we had a reasonably genial relationship with the wildlife, but once territorial lines became blurred, it was ON.  Creatures may look cute, benign, even friendly, but don’t be fooled.

As we go through life, many things look benign, even friendly. What begins as a little meander off the path turns into an epic struggle to regain our footing. It starts with something small; maybe we decide to try the drink, the drug, the illicit relationship- and the next thing we know it’s taken over our thoughts and actions, and it becomes the controlling force in our life. Just as we thought the little hole in the house was no big deal, the seemingly insignificant personal weakness can become our fatal flaw. Before we realize it, we’re wrestling with a problem that requires a lot of time, money, or personal effort to conquer.

People, we all need to check our habits and lifestyles. Is there a weak point where damaging things can get in? Do we have known points of great temptation that we are not protecting? Are we opening ourselves up to influences- people, substances, thought patterns- that will end up destroying the lives we want to build?

No one is perfect, no one is exempt from problems, but we need to ask ourselves if we are doing our best to maintain the good life God has given us. I Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Every time I go outside, there is an angry squirrel in the yard; I am being stalked. Keep your guard up, do what it takes to protect your heart and life.

See you in class.