Snake Handlin'

It was the summer between my eighth and ninth grade school years. My family had just recently moved into a new house in a new subdivision about 12 blocks from where we’d lived for a little over five years. It was close enough that friends from the old neighborhood could come over. Late one afternoon, one of those friends and I were tossing a baseball back and forth in the back yard. Either one of his throws went awry or I flubbed an easy catch (there was a reason major league scouts never stopped by to watch us). In any event, the ball skipped across the street into a large, undeveloped lot.

This lot had a few trees – mostly red alder, madrona and western hemlock – and the typical undergrowth found on the land around Puget Sound in Washington State. There was a lot of red huckleberries, bracken fern and a shrub known as salal, which, like the huckleberry is a member of the heath family. My friend Gordy had thrown the ball fairly hard, so I figured it was about 20 feet into this thick mess. I got down on my knees and started crawling in where we last saw the white orb. This was the best way to tackle the task, since both the salal and bracken fern grew about three feet tall.

After going just a short distance, I spied the ball. I quickly noticed that it was perched upon a strange structure. In the dim light, I recognized it for what it was: a rather uncommon snake known as a rubber boa, coiled up as nicely as could be under the ball. Having a biological bent even at that age, my baseball game came to a stop as I retrieved my approximately two-foot long treasure. How I knew what it was back then I have no idea. To my knowledge, I’d never seen one before, and I don’t remember having ever read about them. But I just knew that was what it was.

I took the snake to the house and put it into the standard “Dr. G” collecting apparatus – my mother’s old galvanized washtub. There I supplied it with plant material to hide under until I could take it to school in a shoe box the next day. I had tolerant teachers. In drafting class I announced that I had something I wanted to show the others. When I dumped the snake out onto the table, there were several forms of excitement, ranging from shrieks to gasps of admiration (at least that’s how I took them). Rubber boas are about as docile as a snake can be – according to literature I checked as I wrote this they are not known to strike in defense. One will generally bury its head under its body, and if terribly bothered, release a strong musky fluid from the vent. But that is all. Fortunately, I didn’t irritate my snake.

The other thing that made it such a neat display object is that they are quite slow as far as snakes go. We had no trouble directing its movement, and quite a few of my classmates got up the nerve to actually handle the snake. The body, as can be seen in the photo, is very muscular (it is a Boa, after all) and has the feel of soft but firm rubber (hence the name). After a few days, my folks called the zoo in Seattle to see if they’d like it (they would) so we took it in to them.

I think it is wonderful that you can learn so much about snakes that you can identify them immediately. But a word of caution. There is one snake that we need to learn to recognize, but only at distance. He’s found world-wide and is quite vicious. He can be found described in both the book of Genesis and the book of Revelation. He is called the father of lies, a master of deceit. He is a champion of disguise, and is not to be trusted. He can appear in many forms, and is very aggressive, and will strike without provocation. He is best left to the Expert. Don’t try to deal with him on your own. To paraphrase Paul, Satan is out like a hissing serpent, seeking whom he may devour. Stay where the Expert has indicated it is safe.

Dr. G

How's My Testimony?

Have you ever had to testify in court? Have you given sworn testimony, borne witness to some event? The scriptures are full of references to testimony, testifying, bearing witness. Some passages, like John 5:33 and John 5:39 refer to reliable witness. The testimony given was reliable, truthful.
Both of these passages are in one of Christ’s longer responses to the Jewish leaders who had challenged Him. “John bore witness to the truth.” “The scriptures, which you search, testify of me.”

In John 3:11, in His discussion with Nicodemus, Christ pointed out that He (and the disciples) were giving witness and testifying of what they knew and had seen. Furthermore, He pointed out that this reliable testimony was not being received.

Of course, not all testimony given is reliable. At Christ’s trial, false testimony was offered against Him, but the witnesses contradicted one another (Mark 14:56-59)

Another important thought is that we, too, are witnesses. Acts 22:15 was spoken almost 2000 years ago, but it still applies to you and me: “For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.”

What is my witness like? Where do you and I bear our testimony? As sure as a connection with Christ is to bear fruit in our lives, we are on constant display as His witnesses. Is my witness reliable, or is it in conflict with my claims? Do I claim to have truth, only to bear false witness? As people observe my actions and hear my words, to which spirit do I bear witness?

Many years ago, I was parked outside a mall waiting for my wife to return from a brief errand inside. My daughter and son were with me. While sitting there, we watched as a friend and colleague from the college where I was teaching pulled his car into a nearby space. He quickly left the car and headed for the mall door. It was a warm summer evening, and he’d left his car windows open.

Moments later, another vehicle pulled up behind his. A young man jumped out, ran to my friend’s car, removed something from the dashboard, and began to pull away, right before our eyes. I quickly pulled my car in behind him, and I had one of the children write down the license number while the other child confirmed what I read. I then returned to our original spot to await my colleague’s return.

A few months later I was subpoenaed and had to give my testimony in court. I was able to identify the young man, and was able to confirm under oath what I had reported to the police. The suspect’s attorney was unable to refute to my testimony, and his client paid the price.

It is so wonderful to know that when I face the heavenly courtroom, I will have an attorney who will be able to refute the charges laid against me; He'll testify in my behalf. He’s experienced; His testimony is sure. I won’t have to pay the price.

By the way – crossing your fingers while testifying doesn’t work.

Dr. G

Spiritual Box Lunches

A number of years back I attended an out-of-town conference. When registering, I had the option of ordering a prepared lunch, which I took (mostly because they offered a vegetarian option, not because of the $15 charge). When I lined up for my lunch on the day of the conference, I discovered that we were getting box lunches. The contents were: a sandwich, an apple, a bag of chips and one cookie. Oh, yeah, there was also a Juicy Juice. I compared my lunch with the person sitting next to me (a non-vegetarian). Same lunch, except her sandwich had two slices of ham and one slice of cheese where mine had two slices of tomato, some sprouts, and three slices of cucumber. We both got mayo and lettuce. Quite a lunch for $15.

A week ago, my wife and I joined some friends at a large cabin up in Townsend, TN for the weekend. Two couples were responsible for Friday night supper, two for Saturday breakfast, and three for Saturday night supper. For each meal, there was a great abundance of food, probably enough to handle another four couples. The first meal centered on several big pots of soup and four types of sandwiches, but included a great variety of other items. Dessert consisted of large brownies covered with thick, rich chocolate over either a mint layer or peanut-butter. There was far more food than could be eaten.

Breakfast the next morning centered on breakfast burritos, with all sorts of things for the stuffing. One of the men involved prepared several types of fresh-fruit smoothies. Plus the leftovers from the night before were brought out (and enjoyed a second time). Again, there was much more than we could finish.

Supper that night? Burgers, chick-patty sandwiches, hot-dogs, salads, chips…and leftovers from the night before and from breakfast. The point is, there was a great abundance of food the whole weekend, and I suspect that we did the whole thing for less than $15 per person for the weekend. A lot less than I’d spent seven years earlier on a box lunch.

A banquet up in heaven for the redeemed is referred to several times in scripture. Sometimes it is called a wedding feast. In Revelation 19:9 it is called the marriage supper of the Lamb. Do you suppose there’ll be box lunches?

What about my daily spiritual food? Am I satisfied with an almost-empty box lunch (a quick prayer and a text as I dash out the door), or do I really fill my plate with spiritual food by digging into the scriptures to find out what they really teach? Is there spiritual junk-food – sort of God-related, but not really expanding my relationship with Him? How much of that do I put into my system?

Now there's some food for thought.

Have a great day!

Dr. G

False Accusations

Years ago I would make an annual pilgrimage to one of the continent’s spring birding hotspots. I first started going there while teaching biology at a school about 20 miles to the east of Toronto, Ontario. I continued for each of the next fourteen years after I became a professor of biology at a college in central Massachusetts. I even worked it out so that this week-long trip coincided with the week of field work in a class in ornithology that I taught. Yes, Point Pelee National Park on the northern shore of Lake Ontario was the place to be in early May.

While I have many great memories from the times I was there, one has recently come back to mind. I spent an extended weekend there with a friend who was willing to go birding, but wasn’t what I would call an avid birder. But he was a good companion, and we had a fun time. One day we were working the woods south of the nature center, looking for warblers and vireos. We were just off the trail in some dense second growth that opened up into the lower branches of some larger trees.

I had learned the calls of most all the eastern woodland birds, and did much of my initial bird-finding by ear rather than watching for birds. As we crouched there listening, I heard a ruckus headed our way, up about the level of tree tops. It was a flock of crows, and I knew right away that they were harassing some sort of raptor, possibly a hawk. Then, suddenly, crashing down through the small branches and perching about eight feet from us was a great horned owl. Here was the crows’ sport. Angry, fluffed up, out of breath. The crows quickly spotted my friend and me, and stayed at the tops of the trees. The owl sat where it had landed and glared at us.

Have you ever been falsely accused? The look on the owl’s face seemed to be one that peered into our souls, as if we were responsible for its situation. So intense was the look that I was tempted to respond, telling the owl that we had nothing to do with its plight. While this may have been true, the accusing look could not be ignored. Even our actual innocence could not remove the feeling of condemnation placed upon us.

How do you deal with false accusation? Or, perhaps, is this something you’ve never had to deal with? Most of the disciples had to deal with it at one time or another. If you read the book of Acts, and even some of Paul’s epistles, we find that many times he was badly treated on the basis of false accusations.

Stephen was falsely accused, and stoned.

Most terrible were the false accusations that were hurled at Christ during His trial. The accusations were even contradictory. But those in charge were so determined to be done with Him that they ignored the laws regarding fair trial, and condemned Him anyway. I wonder how they will feel when they have to look into His face when He returns (check out Revelation 1:7). The accusations they will face will not be false. Far better to face false accustions in behalf of our Lord than to face true accusations from Him.

This weekend, Christendom will celebrate His death and resurrection. Keep in mind that even as He promised to die for us, He has promised to return for us. Every eye will see Him. Some will see joy on His face. Some will not.

Have a great weekend.

Dr. G

Bus 4!

One of my colleagues was walking down the Kindergarten hallway the other day when a little guy in a door way greeted her with, “Bus 4!”

A little explanation may be in order to understand what was going on. At our school, at the end of the day, certain support staff walk the length of the Kindergarten-First grade hallway collecting children for the various buses. As we go, we carry a sign with the bus number and call out the number as we pass the rooms. We then lead our lines out the doors and onto the buses.

Apparently, this fellow above recognized the teacher involved as someone who would take him to his bus, and he was either imitating her by calling out his bus number, or he was reporting for duty. In any case, he saw her as someone connected with his bus.

After this story was related to me, I wondered, what else do these children see in us? Do they see me only as the man who wears funny ties? Do they see me as someone who has time to return a wave as we pass? In their eyes, am I someone who responds to their needs?

Or do they see me simply as someone who is always telling them to sit down and be quiet? Stay in line, and quit talking! Pay attention to your work! Is that the me they see? Am I a friend, or someone to be endured during the day? What do they see in me?

In a passage in Matthew 25, Christ relates the connection between how we treat and respond to the least of those around us (children, perhaps?) to how we treat Him. “(I)nasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Verse 40)

Perhaps I’ve been focusing on the wrong question. Instead of only asking, “What do they see in me?” I should also be asking, “What do I see in them?”

Yes, it is important for me to act in such a way that they will see Christ reflected in my life. Wait, that is poorly worded. I shouldn’t be acting. May my life be under Christ’s control to such an extent that they see Him, rather than me.

At the same time, it is also important for me to see them as Christ’s lambs, for such they are. Hmmmm. How can I do that? Let's see. If He’s in control....How will I see them?

Have a blessed day.

Dr. G

Watery Eyes?

Well, it is that time again. Trees in bloom. Maples bloomed almost a month ago, and then came the Bradford pears. Now we have a whole bunch of trees in bloom: red buds, ashes, dogwoods, hickories, pines. The oaks and flowering crab apples can’t be too far behind.

The human body has a protection mechanism that involves the immune system. This system is designed to counteract foreign protein; in particular, proteins on invading parasites, bacteria and viruses. It is this mechanism that brings about the aching, fever, inflammation, watery eyes and runny noses that come with colds, flues, etc. But the system will also respond to other, non-dangerous proteins, perhaps more in some folks’ cases than in others. And that is where the trees come in to play at this time of year.

Most trees are wind pollinated. To be successful, they must spread their pollen over broad areas in the hopes that the pollen will make contact with a corresponding flower of the same tree type. Part of this strategy is to produce extra-large quantities of pollen. Sort of like the shotgun approach. For the trees, this is a great strategy. For those sensitive to (read allergic) to the proteins on the pollen grains, it can spell misery. My eyes have been red, watery and itchy since the maples began blooming in early March.

What is happening, as in other allergies, is that my immune system is over-reacting to the harmless pollen in the air. At my expense, yet. Yes, there are medications that can help. Some I can take, others not. Of those I can take, some make me drowsy, others don’t. Unfortunately, in my case, the ones that don’t make me drowsy don’t seem to work on the symptoms. On the other hand, the ones that do make me drowsy work quite well on the symptoms. This would be great, except it doesn’t pay to be too drowsy when at work, if you know what I mean. So I have to settle for the lowest common denominator – suffer through the problem without pharmaceutical help. Until my body undergoes a change and no longer responds to invading protein, I guess I’m stuck with it.

I wish I had an immune system that would respond as strongly and naturally against sin. But my human nature welcomes in the invading temptations. I’m extremely susceptible on my own. Fortunately, however, there is an “over-the-counter” medication available. The Great Physician is willing to step in, any time I ask, to help against the infections. In fact, the way I understand it, as long as I am under His direct care, I won’t get sick. Not only will He work on healing me from the inside out, He’ll help me stay away from those places where I might pick up some strange “sin” protein. I think I’ll give it a try.

Yes, I know my eyes are red, and, No, I haven’t been crying. Pass me the tissues, please.

Dr. G

Post Notes:
1. Redbud and crabapple trees are insect pollinated. Little of their pollen gets in the air. Therefore, they’re not generally allergy-causing trees.
2. Pine trees, while wind pollinated, produce pollen that is non-allergenic for most people. So they don’t mess up your system. Only your car if you park near a pine tree this time of year.
3. The Great Physician’s remedies are free.