I have been working for four weeks now and missing my morning walks. Today I had a day off and took advantage of it by taking my walk. It was an overcast looking like it will rain any moment morning but I still wore my sunglasses. I am a hopeful, prepared person always ready for the sun to shine on me. Yes I mean this metaphorically as well I always wait on the Son to shine His light and wisdom on me. Who cares what people think when they see me walking in the rain with sunglasses on. I carried no umbrella if it rained it rained, the optimist in me says, healing rain is good too. So this is my attitude in life now. Its all good.
On the final stretch of my walk, I danced, and I flew for what seemed like an eternity but actually it was just a few seconds, who can really fly? Let me tell you how I achieved such an adrenalin rush and miraculous deed. Minding my own business, walking down the darkening street ahead of me as the clouds above threatened to pour rain on me, I stepped on what I thought was a ribbon or belt or some other debris in the road. In that split second I realized I had stepped on a horrible dead snake and while my foot was still on it, that is when I did my squeal, EW! OMG!! OMG!! flap my wings leap in the air several times attempting to fly away dance in the middle of the street. I think I did fly for at least a half a second, but my goodness it was breathtaking. Really I was gasping afterward. I was so grateful that this normally busy street was empty and I was the only one to witness this because I truly might be in a special ward at the hospital by now.
I remember one day late last year some ladies warned me as I was returning from a walk “Oh we don’t walk over there because of snakes” I remember walking on thinking to myself “Those snakes are more afraid of me, I will be ok, my angels will clear the path for me” Ha, I know those angels of mine were laughing right along with me this morning. After I composed myself and I laughed out loud at my latest walking experience, I said “Lord, I am made to tread on snakes and scorpions, why did stepping on a dead snake freak me out so badly?” I am truly not as brave as I thought I was but then revelation began to bloom in my mind and I could see how strong I am now from where I had started so many years ago. I have practiced with stepping on spiders, and roaches. Why now I can even chase a roach down to kill it. I have touched reptiles at the zoo; I have even held a lizard or a frog. Snakes are too scary for me, with their fangs and sneakiness. I really wish I could squash one like Jim Caviezel did in the Passion of Christ. I confess I have only seen scorpions behind glass and would more than likely run from them too. I am still a fraidy cat and am glad God loves me just as I am.
So here I am thinking, Lord how can I be a soldier in your heavenly ranks if I can’t step on a dead snake? Then my battle strategy started to unfold before me. I will kill my enemies with kindness. I will make them bust a gut and DIE laughing. You see, even that has a place in the kingdom and the court jester has her purpose. I love it. I don’t know if I will ever be able to step on a live snake, or even be brave enough to chase one down and step on it, but I can rouse the troops by stomping on a dead snake over and over again. Well that is a lie, once will do because then I dance and fly. Life is so interesting sometimes.
