Something to Think About

We have some “children” who have taken up residence out front.  They come out at night and go back into hiding during the day.  They perform a valuable service to us and don’t create any trash or messiness.  I’m referring to several little toads that have evidently been hatched some place in front of our house…probably in one of the flower garden areas.  They come out at night because our porch lights come on automatically, and stay on all night.  These little critters sit under the lights and snap up whatever insect may unfortunately happen to get too close.  All of them seem to be enjoying themselves and are nowhere near underfed.

They aren’t as big as the full-grown variety.  I don’t think I’ve seen any mature toads out front this year.  Nevertheless, they are welcome, even if I do have to watch where I step when I go out after dark.

I’m not sure what the life cycle is of the toad.  When I finish this, I’ll have to look it up.  I’m thinking they overwinter underground.  No, I’ll look it up now.  Be back in a minute.

Well, I found out a few things.  Toads are amphibians, just as are frogs.  They mate in or around water, and their eggs are located in the water.  Tadpoles soon hatch, and if they survive, metamorphose into toads.

They hibernate over the winter underground, under a pile of leaves, or even at the bottom of a pond in the mud.  They can live 20 or more years, and don’t reach maturity until they’re three or four years old.  They eat about any small, dark thing that moves within a certain distance of them, including insects, worms, and for larger toads, small snakes or even mice.

So there you have it…more about toads than you probably wanted to know.  But I’m telling you all of this for a reason.

Toads normally aren’t one of a person’s favorite animals.  Just as spiders, mice, snakes, bugs (including the dung beetle…probably one of the more revolting of the insects), and other critters are often despised, toads are considered to be unclean by many, and the source of warts (untrue) by a good number of folks as well.  However, I believe the more one knows about an animal and the role it plays in the creation, the more that animal is at least respected for what it is and what it was created for.

Toads, just like all other animals, have a place in the environment.  They perform a service.  They fill a niche.  They do their thing.  And they are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” just as all other parts of the created universe are.

We would do well to do a little less turning up of our noses at something like a toad, and do a little more investigation as to the role that thing plays in the plan of God for His creation.  And when we do, we will come away with a renewed appreciation for the Intelligence that designed and made it all.

All Of Our Learning...

As I was reading my daily Bible reading today (no, I don’t always do it daily), I noticed something that sort of stood out.  I was reading in Mark where Jesus was in a crowd, and was “casting out demons,” as Mark says.  The narrative also says that the demons at once would recognize Jesus, and often would say something to the effect of, “You are the Son of God!” before being cast out.

Whatever you think of demon possession is not at issue at this point.  These people had some kind of obvious medical/psychiatric/demonic issue that precipitated behavior such that the people of the day believed they were demon-possessed.  Personally, I believe they WERE demon-possessed, and have already written in a prior blog why I think so (although I can’t find that blog…I may have to re-write it).

In any event, it seems telling to me that the demons that were inhabiting these people immediately knew who Jesus was; the Pharisees and learned Jewish scholars of the day seemed to have a blind eye toward him.  As it was then, so it is still today.  Much of humanity seems to have a blind spot when it comes to recognizing Jesus as the Son of God.

How is it that the arch-enemy of the Ultimate Good immediately recognized him when it sees him, but we humans seem to forever be arguing, fussing, back-stepping, and falling all over ourselves to find a reason to dispel the truth of Jesus’ identity?  Do we think the demons, whatever they were, were in error?  Do we not believe what is written by more than one person, confirmed by the best possible evidence as authentic, and preserved for two thousand years?  What’s the deal here?

I would hope that all of our learning and education is not blinding us to the reality that is God Incarnate.  I would hope that we could look past our faulty logic and reasoning to the Truth that is Jesus.  I would hope that we would find the ultimate Life in the person of Jesus Christ.  And I would hope that we would understand that the Way is the One and Only Messiah of God.

A Few Things to Change

July has been a busy month.  A trip to the Black Hills, the Independence Day celebration, family reunion in Illinois, and of course the normal work around the house and as a vocation.  These are all things that keep one busy, if not young.

It’s hard to believe we’re on the downhill slide of the year 2014.  It’s even harder to believe that I will soon be a Medicare beneficiary.  And once that happens, it’s permanent…no going back…no winding the clock the opposite way.

I can sort of understand it when older folks are reluctant to make the trip to assisted living, or even independent living.  And having to go from one’s home to long term care (a nursing home) is even more of a traumatic thing.  Because once they go, there’ s no going back.  Once the downsizing begins, it seems to gather steam until that final downsizing when the truth of Scripture is manifested:  “For we have brought nothing into this world, so we cannot take anything out of it, either.  (I Timothy 6:7)

There is an old joke that sometimes goes around about folks entering into the front door of a nursing facility or living facility, and exiting out the back door…in a hearse.  It takes someone with a certain combination of resignation, satisfaction in life lived, and peace with God to make that transition in a dignified and respected way.  It takes someone who believes he or she still has value and is still valued to live his remainder of days with dignity and grace.

And that valuing of a life…that dignity that is human life…comes not only from within, but also from without.  For how a person is treated by others is key to one’s own thought process regarding his or her value as a human being.

Those of us who are younger should beware of our propensity to dismiss the elderly or to marginalize them to the fringes of society and family.  Simply by virtue of length of years, these people deserve a certain amount of respect and deference.  Pandering to or condescending to the elderly is NOT imputing value and dignity.  Listening…really listening…is one of the keys to truly valuing them as persons.  Seeing to needs, being available, and demonstrating genuine concern and care are also vital in any relationship.

Those of us who are younger will soon enough be among those of us who are older.  Have we burned bridges during our younger days?  Have we ended relationships through crass and boorish behavior or outright hostility toward someone we would later wish we had within our circle of friends and relatives?  Or will we face the remainder of our days alone and lonely, wishing desperately for some genuine interaction and concern?

Leviticus 19:32 tells one of the old law’s principles for living.  It’s pertinent today as well, because the verse gives us an understanding of how God sees the aged.  And since God never changes, He still regards the honoring of the aged as good.  "Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord."  Job 12:12 talks of wisdom and understanding in the elderly.  He says in one of his discourses, "With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding."

We are admonished in other passages to give honor to our father and mother, and to seek wisdom and understanding from the elderly.  We are told that the aged can indeed minister to God in fruitful ways, and are given examples of Godly men and women who have done so (Caleb and Anna among others).\

So, regardless of your age, as you see the days and years hurtling past, give good assessment to your thoughts and opinions regarding the aging and the aged.  Think about how you would like to be treated when you are 90 years old.  You might just find you have a few things to change.